KEELEY: HALVERSON STOPS 35 AS MARINERS DROP ROYALS 

Mariners start fast and hold off Royals for their third straight win

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners

PORTLAND, ME – November 28, 2018 – The Mariners got two goals in the first 8:20 and their netminder did the rest as the Mariners defeated the Reading Royals on Wednesday night at the Cross Insurance Arena, 4-1. It was their third straight win, their fourth consecutive home victory, and it extended their home point streak to seven. Overall, they’ve won 7 of their last 8 games, with a 7-1-0-1 November record.

In his first game back returning from being loaned to AHL Utica, Alex Kile opened the scoring at 6:03 after Riley Bourbonnais helped cause a turnover below the goal line. Kile grabbed the puck at the left-wing circle and beat Austin Lotz for a 1-0 Mariners lead. Sean Day also picked up a secondary helper. Just over two minutes later, the Mariners continued their shorthanded binge, when Morgan Adams-Moisan stole a puck at the Reading blue line and ripped home his first professional goal, dragging a shot over Lotz’s glove hand. It was the Mariners’ sixth shorthanded goal of the season – all coming in the past eight games. With just over four minutes left in the period, Brandon Halverson made a spectacular lunging glove save to stop Steven Swavely on the back door. The Mariners led 2-0 at the end of one.

With Halverson continuing to shut the door early in the second period, the Mariners were able to extend the lead to 3-0 when Alec Baer tapped home a power play goal from Ryan Ferrill and Riley Bourbonnais. Just as the period was ending, Swavely snuck a shot just inside the short-side post to beat Halverson and make it a 3-1 game at the end of two.

Reading pelted Halverson with 15 shots in the third period, but he held strong and Vince Pedrie’s empty net goal from inside the Mariners blue line at 18:35 sealed the 4-1 final. Halverson’s win was his sixth in a row as he turned aside 35 of 36. Lotz stopped 25 of 28 to fall to 0-2-1. The Mariners and Royals are now even in their season series at two wins apiece.

The Mariners are home again Friday to host the Worcester Railers at 7:15 PM. It’s “Rivalry Night,” with UNE and USM students competing in intermission activities. It’s also a 1-2-3 Friday: $1 hot dogs $2 popcorn, and $3 Bud Lights through the start of the second period. Tickets can be purchased online at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling 207-775-3458.