It was a fast start for the Railers who wasted no time putting pucks onto Wolves’ goaltender Krystopher Richard, who was tested all throughout the contest. The Railers would have 11 of the game’s first 15 shots and they’d get on the board 6:13 in. Warner-Senee was able to find Jaymin Rolfe on a cross zone pass, Rolfe was then able to drag it through defenders before slipping it around Richard and the near post. The Wolves would answer 1:30 later as their top line would go to work. A shot from Harrison Kramer was too hot to handle for Matteo Medoro and after going off his glove it was tapped in by Zach Spicuzza for his 3rd of the post season. Despite a 24-7 edge in shots for the Railers, the score was deadlocked 1-1.
The teams would combine for a five-goal second period with the Wolves managing to take the lead on two separate occasions. 5:09 into the period David Klaus would strike for his first of the post season and the Wolves, despite only 12 shots, had themselves a 2-1 lead. Jackson Hanson would be whistled for a cross check and the Railers made sure he’d pay just under two minutes after Klaus’ goal Warner-Senee would equalize. The Railers continued to volley pucks on goal, pumping another 20 onto Richard. He would hold firm and it’d lead to an opportunistic rush by Jan-Sebastian Vancura who dusted a shot past Medoro’s blocker, 3-2 Wolves.
It would look like New England would lead into the intermission, the Railers had other plans. Two goals just 15 seconds apart would see a 3-2 Wolves lead turn into a 4-3 Railer lead, a lead which they would not relinquish. Brooks Wright dazzled down the left-wing side and beat Richard with a clean shot, it was his second of the playoffs. Right back on the attack Braeden McKenzie was able to work a puck in front where an unchecked Will Celli slid a shot underneath Richard’s pad.
The third period was dominated by the Railers’ stars. Rolfe and Warner-Senee would combine for three goals and five points to help put the game out of reach. After Rolfe scored early in the period Warner-Senee would send a shot through a Tomczyk screen, beating Richard five-hole. The Wolves would get life off a rush from Harrison Kramer who burned past defenders before making a beautiful move around Medoro, that would cut it to 6-4. Rolfe would respond 11 seconds later to complete the hat trick for his 7th of the playoffs. Despite the seven spot Richard was phenomenal all throughout finishing with 55-62 shots, Medoro was not as busy but stopped 20-24 for the victory. The Railers will play tomorrow at 5pm against the 87’s while the Wolves will see the Rangers at 8pm.
