MARINERS WEEKLY: CHRISTMAS VACATION

Dec. 16, 2019 – Two games remain before the holiday break, and four massive points will be up for grabs as the Mariners visit Glens Falls, New York this weekend to play another pair of games with a very familiar opponent, the Adirondack Thunder. The Thunder are currently two points ahead of the Mariners for fourth in the North, with Maine holding four games in hand – which will become six after Adirondack visits Newfoundland on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. If all breaks right, the Mariners have a chance to be in a playoff position by the time their Christmas Eve dinner of choice hits the table next week.

The week that was:Tuesday, Dec. 10th – ADK: 2, MNE: 3/OT

The Mariners completed a three game sweep of Adirondack – all three games being decided by one goal. Ted Hart and Alex Kile helped the Mariners to a 2-0 lead by the early stages of the second period, but the Thunder used a pair of power play goals to rally and force OT. Nearly the entire seven minute sudden death session passed until Dillan Fox redirected Brandon Crawley’s pass from the left wall for the game winner with just 20 seconds remaining. Francois Brassard got his first start and win of the season.

Friday, Dec. 13th – MNE: 4, WOR: 2

Michael McNicholas and Greg Chase each broke long goal-less droughts, McNicholas scoring a pair including the game winning penalty shot goal in the second period, and Chase snapped a Mariners 0-for-27 in the power play with an insurance goal in the third. Connor LaCouvee picked up his sixth win of the season, and the Mariners tied a season high with their fourth victory in a row

Saturday, Dec. 14th – MNE: 2, WOR: 3

The Mariners came out flat, and put themselves in an early 2-0 hole, including Worcester’s Teddy Bear Toss goal only 2:13 into the game. Despite playing a much better final 40 minutes, the Mariners didn’t get on the board until the middle stages of the third period, at which point Alex Kile made it a 3-1 Railers lead. Zach Tolkinen made things very interesting when he sliced the deficit to one, but the Mariners couldn’t get any closer and saw their winning streak snapped.

This week’s schedule (all times Eastern)Fri, Dec. 20 @ Adirondack Thunder – 7:00 PM (AWAY)Sat, Dec. 21 @ Adirondack Thunder – 7:00 PM (AWAY)

The Mariners and Thunder meet for the fourth and fifth times of six in December, with the Mariners now leading the season series, four games to three. Maine won its last trip to the Cool Insuring Arena on December 6th, with Jake Elmer netting his second hat trick of the season against the Thunder, including the overtime winner. Regardless of point differential, the Mariners will carry six games in hand on the Thunder entering the holiday break. Both games begin at 7:00, with pregame coverage on the Mariners broadcast network beginning at 6:45. A free radio broadcast is available at MarinersOfMaine.com/listen and fans can also subscribe to watch in HD on ECHL.tv – the “AWAY” option will carry the Mariners broadcast.