WORCESTER — Nick Tuzzolino and the Worcester Railers are all in.
Even after a 3-2 loss in overtime to the Adirondack Thunder Sunday at the DCU Center, the Railers moved to 34-29-7 with just two games left in the regular season. They currently lead the Reading Royals — who Worcester will play two times next Friday and Saturday — by two points (75) for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
So Tuzzolino, the Railers’ coach and general manager, compared his team’s postseason push to a game of poker. And Worcester is pushing all its chips to the center of the table.
“Our mentality is always a chip and a chair,” said Tuzzolino, referencing having chips for the card game and a seat at the table. “Right now, we have the chip, and we’re hopefully going to keep the chair.”
Over the past three seasons, the Railers’ playoff chances went belly up on the final day of the regular season. With the opportunity to finally lock up their first postseason berth since their inaugural season as the Railers in 2017-18, Worcester hopes to avoid a familiar fate this week.
“Three straight years here and we’ve lost out on the (playoffs on the) last weekend,” said Railers captain Anthony Repaci, who set a new single season record for points (62) with an assist Sunday. “We’ve been in the fight to the very end. It’s coming down to the wire, but these are all playoff games right now.
“We’re playoff ready and if we happen to get in, and we’re expecting to get in, I don’t think it’s going to be an easy task for anyone in this division to take us out.”
Following the Railers’ loss Sunday, players signed autographs with fans on the ice at the DCU Center to commemorate their final regular season home game. The hope for the club, however, is to return home in three weeks for a playoff contest.
Worcester Railers players — including fan favorite Anthony Repaci — sign autographs for fans following the team’s final home game of the season here at the DCU Center. pic.twitter.com/HTMkMGb1RI
— Tommy Cassell ...
