Quick strikes in the second period put Mariners in too deep of a hole
BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners
PORTLAND, ME – January 27, 2019 – Cullen Bradshaw and Desmond Bergin scored 25 seconds apart in the 2nd period to put the Thunder ahead 3-1 and they never looked back on Wednesday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena. It was the Mariners’ third loss in a row, their first three-game losing streak since October 26th-November 2nd.
The Mariners got off to a 1-0 lead at 7:34 of the opening period when Morgan Adams-Moisan tipped home Brycen Martin’s shot from the right point. Michael McNicholas also assisted. Adirondack used the power play to get even at 17:28 when defenseman Desmond Bergin beat Ed Minney with a wrist shot from the left-wing circle.
Cullen Bradshaw broke the tie at 13:56 of the 2nd with another power play goal when he banked a puck off Minney from below the goal line and Bergin roofed another one on the ensuing shift to quickly make it 3-1. The Mariners surrendered five power play goals in two games this weekend. A helmet violation penalty on Adirondack’s Matias Cleland gave Maine a 5-on-3 to start the third.
After failing with the two-man advantage, the Mariners were given another power play at 10:49 but allowed a shorthanded goal when Connor Riley broke in along and beat Minney. In total, the Mariners went 0 for 6 on the power play. With the goaltender pulled, Drew Melanson grabbed a rebound off the pad of Alex Sakellaropoulos with 2:07 to go to cut into the deficit. Sakellaropoulos faced 23 third period shots, stopping all but Melanson’s, which was too little too late for the Mariners.
Sakellaropoulos got his 13th win with 37 stops in the game, Minney stopped 26 of 30 for the loss – the first decision of his Mariners career. Adirondack snapped a three-game losing streak of their own with the win.
The Mariners play on the road Wednesday in Reading and Friday in Manchester before returning home for another meeting with the Thunder on Saturday, February 2nd. It’s “Women in Sports Night presented by the Maine Sports Commission. The first 2,000 fans through the gate will also receive a Grocery Tote Bag, presented by Townsquare Media. Game time is 6:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at MarinersofMaine.com or by visiting or calling the Trusted Choice Box Office: 207-775-3458.
