Gropp leads the way in Mariners home debut as Halverson stops 47
BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners
PORTLAND, ME – December 7, 2018 – In a game that saw several lead changes and momentum swings, the Mariners prevailed 5-4 in a shootout over the Adirondack Thunder on Friday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. Ryan Gropp led the way offensively with a goal and an assist in his Mariners home debut, plus the lone goal of the shootout. Brandon Halverson turned aside 47 of 51 Thunder shots.
The Mariners scored the only goal of the first period when Michael McNicholas cashed in a Sean Day power play feed at 5:55. The Thunder were returning a player to the ice at the end of a 5-on-3 and Day was able to move between the circles and feed McNicholas who lifted a shot over a sprawling Alex Sakellaropoulos. Brandon Halverson stopped all 15 shots he faced in the first.
Adirondack came hard in the second period and tied it quickly when John Edwardh collected a free puck from behind the pads of Halverson at 1:22. Kevin Lough picked up his first of three assists on the night with the shot from the point to produce the goal. Ten seconds later, the Mariners took the lead back off a Ryan Ferrill faceoff win that Justin Breton picked up and sniped past Sakellaropoulos. The Thunder tied it again at 6:11 on a James Henry wrister, leading a two-on-one with Peter MacArthur. Adirondack went to the power play and grabbed their first lead at 8:19 when Shane Conacher rocketed one-timer past Halverson from above the left wing circle. Maine finished the wild second period with its own power-play tally with 16 seconds left as McNicholas found Ryan Gropp across the goal mouth for a shot under the cross bar.
At 7:05 of the third, Joe Kalisz came out of the penalty box and chased after his own rebound behind the Adirondack net. Gropp pulled the puck out from below the goal line and found Riley Bourbonnais streaking down the slot to give the Mariners a 4-3 lead. Kalisz registered his first ECHL point with the secondary assist. The 4-3 held up until 18:16 when with the extra attacker out for Adirondack, Edwardh struck again for his second of the game and fourth at the Cross Insurance Arena this season (of his six total goals).
Each team had good opportunities through a scoreless three on three overtime and registered four shots apiece. In the shootout, Gropp beat Sakellaropoulos with a stick-side wrister, and no one else would find the back of the net. Halverson stopped Edwardh and Cullen Bradshaw before Peter MacArthur lost the puck in the final attempt for the Thunder, ending the game. The Mariners allowed a season-high 51 shots as Halverson earned his 7th win. Sakellaropoulos made 32 saves in the loss. The Mariners win marked their first against Adirondack in franchise history. They’ve also collected points in eight of their last nine home games, dating back to October 21st.
The Mariners are back home Sunday vs. Worcester at 3:00 PM for “Night of Champions” presented by Spectrum Healthcare Partners. Fans are asked to continue to bring non-perishable food donations to both games to benefit Preble Street. Tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling 207-775-3458.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT
PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
Stay connected with ours socials