PORTLAND, ME – May 5, 2026 – The Maine Mariners, proud affiliates of the NHL's Boston Bruins and AHL's Providence Bruins, were forced to a Game 7 of the North Division Semifinals after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Adirondack Thunder on Tuesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. Thunder defenseman Jeremy Hanzel scored the game-winner at 12:12 of sudden death.
Maine outshot Adirondack 9-3 in a scoreless first period and started the scoring with a power play goal at 5:49 of the second period. Max Andreev set up Jacob Hudson on the back door to break the seal, Hudson's fifth goal of the series. Hudson has registered a point in all six games of the series. The Mariners carried a 1-0 lead into the third.
Maine battled through the third to preserve their lead, killing off a double-minor high-sticking penalty along the way. Reminiscent of Game 1, Adirondack came up with a clutch 6-on-5 goal to tie the game late. Tag Bertuzzi found room in the right circle and beat Luke Cavallin to tie it up at 18:37 and force the third overtime of the series.
At 12:12 of overtime, Jeremy Hanzel tracked down an airborne puck and ripped a wrister past the stick side of Cavallin to end the game. The Thunder have won back-to-back overtime games in the series facing elimination.
A winner-take-all Game 7 will be played on Wednesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena with a 7:00 PM puck drop. The winner will advance to the North Division Finals to take on the Wheeling Nailers, beginning Friday. Tickets for Wednesday's Game 7 are available at MarinersofMaine.com/playoffs.
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