Mariners look to start winning streak

Oct. 22, 2018 – With a thrilling third period comeback effort on Sunday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena, the Maine Mariners picked up their first win in franchise history. The victory capped off three games in three days for the Mariners who don’t get much of a rest this week, playing three more in a four day span from Wednesday through Saturday.

This past weekendFri, Oct. 19th – REA: 6, MNE: 4The weekend got off to a good start when the Mariners built a 2-0 lead on home ice against the Reading Royals thanks to a first period goal by Terrence Wallin and early second period power play tally by Alex Kile. Holding a 2-1 advantage late in the second, Morgan Adams-Moisan was assessed a double minor penalty, leading to Nick Luukko’s game-tying goal. Reading scored two more in the final minutes of the period to go up 4-2, and built the lead to 5-2 just 30 seconds into the third. The Mariners mounted a comeback when Derek Pratt and Garrett Cecere each scored their first professional goals, but a long empty-net goal by Michael Huntebrinker sealed their fate. FULL GAME RECAP

Sat, Oct. 20th – MNE: 1, WOR: 4In what was the home opener for the Worcester Railers, a highlight reel goal by Railers forward Tyler Barnes opened the scoring late in the first period. Despite a 15-11 shot advantage in the second period, the Mariners fell down 3-0 on Worcester goals by Mike Cornell and Jeff Kubiak. Starting goaltender Brandon Halverson was lifted in favor of Connor LaCouvee in the third period, and he stopped 10 of 11 shots, but a Riley Bourbonnais goal to briefly make the game interesting early in the frame was all the Mariners could muster. FULL GAME RECAP

Sun, Oct. 21st – NFL: 2, MNE: 4In the inaugural meeting of the ECHL’s two newest teams, Drew Melanson’s breakaway goal gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead after one. The Growlers dominated the second period, outshooting the Mariners 13-4 and getting a pair of quick goals from Ryan Moore and Marcus Power (PPG). With less than eight minutes left in the third, Dawson Leedahl tied the game on the power play and on the very next shift, Alex Kile broke loose and slipped a puck between the pads of the Growler goaltender (Michael Garteig) to give Maine two goals in 17 seconds, and a 3-2 lead. Kile tossed in the empty netter to give him a total of four goals in three Mariners home games. Connor LaCouvee got the win his first pro start, stopped 32 of 34 shots. FULL GAME RECAP