GROWLERS RECAP | Growlers Score 6 Goals in the Third to Dump Worcester 7-5

Worcester Railers (6-13-1-0) at Newfoundland Growlers (16-8-0-0)Friday, December 6th – Mile One Centre – St. John’s, NL Goal Summary

Game Story The Newfoundland Growlers extended their winning streak to four games Friday night defeating the Worcester Railers 7-5 at Mile One Centre in a game that was highlighted by a six-goal third period for the Growlers. A scoreless opening period saw chances at both ends of the ice, but Maksim Zhukov was solid between the pipes for Newfoundland stopping all 16 shots he faced. Jordan Samuels-Thomas opened the scoring 2:24 into the second period after being sprung on a breakaway and sliding it five-hole on Zhukov to give the Railers a 1-0 lead. Bo Brauer doubled the lead to 2-0 with 7:23 to play in the second period, and Nic Pierog made it a 3-0 game just 54 seconds later after a puckhandling miscue by Zhukov found its way to the back of the net for a shorthanded tally. Brady Ferguson stopped the bleeding with 4:13 left in the second period after re-directing a Riley Woods shot behind Evan Buitenhuis for a powerplay goal and to get the Growlers on the board for a 3-1 score. Giorgio Estephan cut the deficit to one 6:58 into the third period after cleaning up a scramble in front of the Railers crease for a 3-2 game, and just over two minutes later both Jordan Samuels-Thomas and Estephan traded goals 17 seconds apart for a 4-3 Railers lead. Matt Schmalz would continue the back-and-forth third period adding his sixth of the season at the 11:03 mark of the third period, to which Aaron Luchuk replied for the Growlers 1:10 later finishing off a wraparound and sliding it home for a 5-4 game. Luchuk added his second of the night at 14:10 to tie things up at 5-5, and Joseph Duszak fired home his fifth of the season just 17 seconds later to give the Growlers their first lead of the game and bring Growlers Nation to their feet at Mile One Centre. Both goals came on the same penalty kill for Newfoundland to mark the first two shorthanded goals of the season.   The Railers pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker with 37 seconds left in the game, but Mac Hollowell fired home an empty netter the length of the ice to secure a 7-5 victory. Quick Hits

• Aaron Luchuk was re-assigned to the Growlers from the Toronto Marlies prior to puck drop
• Giorgio Estephan extended his point streak to nine games
• The three stars were 3 – J. Samuels-Thomas (WOR), 2 – G. Estephan (NFL) and 1 – A. Luchuk (NFL)

 What’s Next?The Newfoundland Growlers wrap up their four-game home stand Saturday night in a rematch with the Worcester Railers on St. John’s Maple Leafs throwback night and the annual NTV Teddy Toss. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Mile One Centre Box Office or online at mileonecentre.com.