One night after serving up the first win for new coach David Cunniff, the Worcester Railers and snapping a seven-game losing streak, the Worcester Railers fell back into their losing ways, falling at home, 4-2, to the Indy Fuel Saturday night.
It was the kind of loss that gets fans hot under the collar and taking to social media afterward. On Facebook, some fans were harping about a gamble taken by Railers goalie Even Buitenhuis (26 saves) when his team was on a power play late in the first period. His team already down, 1-0, Buitenhuis ventured well away from the his goal to play the puck, but fumbled it, allowing Indy’s Bobby Macintyre to knock it into the empty net with just 4 seconds left for a 2-0 Indy lead.
Matt Thompson got the Fuel going at 8:40 of the first period, scoring on a turnover in the Railers’ end to put his team up, 1-0.
Jordan Samuels-Thomas pulled the Railers within one on a penalty shot past goalie Charles Williams (28 saves), making it 2-1. The Fuel went back up by two when Dylan McLaughlin snuck one by Buitenhuis at 16:19 for a 3-1 Indy lead. With less than 2 minutes left in the frame, Worcester’s Bo Brauer made good on one of several chances to cut the lead to 3-2.
The final score came at 11:04 of the third period on a Michael Doherty goal for the Fuel.
One night after registering the Railers’ first-ever regulation hat trick, Dante Salituro did not dress.
The Railers go on the road for three games, starting Wednesday against the Brampton Beast, followed by games in Newfoundland Friday and Saturday with the Growlers.