The Adirondack Thunder and Maine Mariners met on Wednesday Night for the first of four games in five nights against each other to finish off the regular season. For the Thunder, they have already clinched their spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, and for the Mariners, their fate rests on the results of their final four games. Adirondack would strike early and often as Yushiro Hirano fed Tristan Ashbrook for his 29th goal of the season at the 5:45 mark of the opening frame, and just 18 seconds later as Travis Broughman drove to the net, Ryan Wheeler would put it home as the Thunder had a 2-0 lead on Maine less than 10 minutes into the game, Zach Walker would pick up an assist in his first game since February 23rd and picking up his first point since February 16th with both of those game being against the Reading Royals.
In the second, Adirondack had 1:30 left on their PP, and right before it expired, Yushiro Hirano was in front with a tip-in for his 15th of the season, and the Thunder had a 3-0 lead. Isaac Poulter kept the Thunder ahead with 11 saves in the second period, none bigger than a windmill save he made at the 5:03 mark to keep Maine off the board. Maine would get on the board as Bennett Stockdale would finish off a three-on-one to pick up his second goal in as many games and raise his point-streak to four games. Just like Adirondack did in the first, the Mariners would pick up another quick one as Gabriel Chicoine found a rebound and put it home for his 16th of the season, and it would be the Thunder who would head to the locker room with a one-goal game. Isaac Poulter would stand tall in the third with nine more saves and another highlight reel save as he finished the night with 25 saves in the win. Tristan Ashbrook and Ryan Smith would both core empty netters for insurance markers; for Ashbrook, the empty netter was his 30th goal of the season. These two teams will meet again on Friday as the Thunder will have a chance to clinch the North Division; puck drop is at 7:15 PM.
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