MARINERS WEEKLY: MORE THUNDER IN THE FORECAST

Jan. 27, 2020 – The Mariners and Adirondack Thunder have already played 12 times this season, but it’s the final six that could very well decide a playoff position between the two teams which have been flip-flopping between fourth and fifth in the North Division standings for the better part of the 2019-20 season. Right now it’s the Thunder with a two point lead on the Mariners, but Maine has the inside track on the playoff spot with more wins, a better point percentage, and four games in hand. The teams will play three times this week – Wednesday and Friday in Glens Falls, and Saturday at the Cross Insurance Arena.

The week that was:

Fri, Jan. 24th – WOR: 1, MNE: 8

The Mariners had a historic game offensively, putting up a season and franchise high eight goals in a rout of the Worcester Railers. It was only a 2-1 game at the end of one period, with Mariners goaltender Adam Huska off to a stellar start in his ECHL debut, stopping 16 first period shots. The Mariners broke the game open with three goals between 6:02 and 7:00 of the 2nd and pulled away from there. Ty Ronning had a hat trick, while six other Mariners had multi-point performances. Huska made a total of 43 saves.

Sat, Jan. 25th – MNE: 1, WOR: 2

In a much lower scoring affair, the Mariners and Railers went into the 3rd period scoreless until Barry Almeida finally gave Worcester the lead at 6:43 of the third. Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin scored a clutch goal at 14:07 to tie it up, but Ross Olsson’s game winner at 18:22 put the game away in heartbreaking fashion. Worcester netminder Evan Buitenhuis robbed the Mariners of numerous scoring chances, bouncing back from his shaky performance on Friday. 

Transactions (oldest to most recent)G Adam Huska was reassigned from Hartford (AHL) to Maine by the New York RangersF Lewis Zerter-Gossage was reassigned by Hartford (AHL) to MaineG Adam Huska was recalled to Hartford (AHL) by the New York RangersF Lewis Zerter-Gossage was recalled by Hartford (AHL)

This week’s schedule (all times Eastern)Weds, Jan. 29 @ Adirondack Thunder – 7:00 PM (AWAY)Fri, Jan. 31 @ Adirondack Thunder – 7:00 PM (AWAY)Sat, Feb. 1 vs. Adirondack Thunder – 6:00 PM (HOME) – Make-A-Wish Maine Night sponsored by Agren