PORTLAND, ME – October 29, 2021 – It was a defense and goaltending battle on Friday night at the Cross Insurance Arena in the first ever meeting between the Maine Mariners and the Trois-Rivieres Lions. After 40 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Lions got a pair of goals in the third period to claim their first victory in franchise history, 2-0.
In net, the game pitted South Portland’s Jon Gillies for the Mariners and Philipe Desrosiers for the Lions. With help from strong defense, both netminders were perfect through the first two periods – Gillies stopping 24 shots and Desrosies making 18 saves. The Mariners appeared to score in the final minute of the first, when Lewis Zerter-Gossage cleaned up a rebound from a Justin Brazeau shot but a quick whistle by the referee thwarted the Mariners potential lead.
At 2:19 of the third period, Justin Ducharme skated in on a breakaway and was stopped by Gillies, but Olivier Archambault followed the shot and cashed in for his first goal of the season. It remained 1-0 until the 13:58 mark of the third when the Lions created a 2-on-1 off a neutral zone turnover and Alexis D’aoust buried a pass from Cameron Hillis to double the Trois-Rivieres lead. A late Lions penalty gave the Mariners a 6-on-4 advantage, but Maine could not break through against Desrosiers, who finished a 34 save shutout. Gillies made 23 saves in the losing effort.
Trois-Rivieres improved to 1-3-0 with their first franchise victory. The Mariners dropped their second straight game, falling to 1-2-0.
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