PORTLAND, ME – March 10, 2023 – Despite rallying from a multi-goal deficit in the third period, the Mariners dropped a topsy-turvy 6-4 contest to the Norfolk Admirals on Friday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. Grant Gabriele’s late game-tying goal was answered by Norfolk’s Mathieu Roy to break a 4-4 tie.
The Admirals jumped to a 2-0 lead in the opening period with a pair of goals less than two minutes apart. At 14:38, defenseman Josh McDougall beat Francois Brassard with a slap shot from the right wall for his first professional goal. Then, at 16:29, Darick Louis-Jean picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and led a 2-on-1 that was finished by Brian Bowen. The Admirals pelted Brassard with 14 first period shots.
Skating 4-on-4, the Mariners got on the board at 7:04 of the 2nd period when Fedor Gordeev broke in alone and backhanded one past Tomas Vomacka. The Admirals struck back on a shorthanded goal from Bowen at 12:47 and entered the third with a 3-1 lead.
Reid Stefanson scored at 5:07 of the third to make it a 3-2 game, setting off Nico Blachman who took a major penalty, giving Maine a five minute power play. After the Mariners failed to score, Eric Cooley snuck one through Brassard at 11:47 to put Norfolk back up two. Tyler Hinam cashed his second goal in as many games, tipping one through Vomacka’s pads at 12:05 to bring it back to a one-goal game yet again. A late delay of game call against Norfolk gave the Mariners one last power play and with Brassard pulled, Grant Gabriele’s blue line shot found the net at 18:15 to tie the score. Roy beat Brassard less than a minute later for the game-winner. Bowen completed his hat trick with an empty netter at 19:04.
Despite the loss, the Mariners “magic number” to clinch a playoff spot fell to 18 thanks to Adirondack’s loss at Worcester.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers