TROIS-RIVIERES, QC – March 30, 2024 – Gabriel Chicoine scored a power play goal with just over seven minutes left in regulation to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Mariners to a crucial 4-3 win over the Trois-Rivieres Lions on Saturday afternoon at Colisee Videotron. The win pulled the Mariners back within one point of a playoff spot.
Lions captain Cedric Montminy opened the scoring midway through the first period, as he slapped home a rebound produced by a Chris Ortiz point shot. The Mariners answered just over two minutes later, however, with Alex Kile feeding Brooklyn Kalmikov for his 17th goal of the season and the sixth in his last seven games.
Scoring a shorthanded goal for the second game in a row, the Mariners grabbed the lead at 1:52 of the second period when Kile dangled Lions goaltender Stauss Mann on a breakaway. It was Kile’s 73rd point of the season, tying the Mariners single-season record held by Tim Doherty in 2022-23. The Lions countered with a shorthanded tally of their own at 6:05 as Justin Ducharme fed Nicolas Guay on a 2-on-1. At 15:32, Jakov Novak collected his third goal of the weekend, following his own shot down the right wing and making it 3-2 Lions. Less than a minute later, Owen Pederson continued a remarkable March, scoring his 10th goal of the month and eighth in a seven game span to even the score back up at 3-3.
On their fifth power play opportunity of the game, the Mariners cashed in for the game-winner. Chicoine unleashed a one-timer from the center point that beat the glove of Mann and put Maine ahead to stay. The Mariners held off the late 6 on 5 attempt by the Lions to secure two important points.
Shane Starrett made 22 saves to earn his 7th win of the season, as Mann stopped 12 of 16. The Mariners are now one point behind the Lions and Worcester Railers for the third and fourth playoff sports in the North Division.
The Mariners (29-28-7-0) will return to Trois-Rivieres next week for a Wednesday night game at 7 PM to wrap up the season series with the Lions. There are three home games remaining in the regular season, beginning Friday, April 5th with Solar Eclipse Night, presented by Venture Solar. The puck drops at 7:15 PM against the Worcester Railers. Single game tickets for all regular season home games are on sale at MarinersOfMaine.com or at the Hammond Lumber Company Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena. More information on ticket packages and group discounts can be found by calling 833-GO-MAINE or by visiting the Mariners front office at 94 Free St. in Portland.
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