KEELEY: MARINERS ALLOW SEASON LOW 20 SHOTS IN LOSS TO NEWFOUNDLAND
Parker Gahagen registers 34 save shutout for streaking Growlers
BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners
PORTLAND, ME – January 12, 2020 – Newfoundland scored two goals in the first four minutes of the second period and that was all the offense for the night for either team in a 2-0 Mariners loss to the Growlers on Sunday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena. The Mariners dropped their fifth game in a row while Newfoundland won its ninth straight.
After a scoreless first period, Newfoundland converted on a power play just over a minute into the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Brady Ferguson beat Connor LaCouvee’s stick-side shoulder with a shot from the edge of the right faceoff circle at 1:04. Ferguson added another point at the 3:20 mark, setting up Marcus Power on a breakaway. Power slid the puck on his backhand under LaCouvee’s pad to double the Growler lead. The Mariners had a shot advantage of 24-17 through two periods despite the 2-0 deficit.
Growlers netminder Parker Gahagen kept momentum on the Growlers side with big saves throughout the game. His best was on a Morgan Adams-Moisan breakaway in the second period, but he also made several stops on deflected point shots, 34 offerings in total. It turned out to be Gahagen’s first professional shutout, not counting one for SPHL’s Evansville Thunderbolts earlier this season.
The Growlers have a franchise long nine-game winning streak as they extend their lead for the top spot in the North Division. The Mariners remain three points behind Adirondack for fourth place, with five games in hand.
The Mariners have one home game left on the current homestand, Tuesday night against the Worcester Railers at 7 PM. They will then embark on a four-game road trip through January 24th. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458.
