A record 6,361 fans fled to Portland’s Cross Insurance Arena to see the end of Maine’s season on Fan Appreciation Night. Although the Maine Mariners will miss the playoffs this year, they went out with a bang.
Quick Series Recap
The Maine Mariners started the final series of the season on a sour note, with a 5-2 loss in Adirondack. Things would start to look up for them with their second game. Nolan Maier would be a saving grace, making 34 saves in a 1-0 shutout in their final away game. He did a miraculous job during the second, making 20 saves. The lone goal came in the third period with a power-play goal by Wyllum Deveaux. Lynden McCallum and Robert Cronin combined to set up Deveaux, who buried a rebound off Jeremy Brodeur at 12:58.
The shutout was Maier’s fourth of the season and capped off Maine’s final road game of the year with a gritty, defensive win. With a split series, Maine sought to end the season with a good note.
Maine Mariners Starting Lineup
Despite the shutout on Saturday, Nolan Maier would sit out during the Mariner’s final game, and Arvanitis would start.
Period One
The first was just back and forth between the Thunder and Mariners until the last few minutes of play. The Mariners were first on the scoreboard at 17:52 when Matthew Philip redirected a shot from Justin Bean past Adirondack goaltender Henry Welsch. Lynden McCallum picked up the secondary assist on the play, marking his 100th career ECHL point.
Second Period
Maine extended its lead with two quick strikes just 11 seconds apart in the second period. At 5:02, Bean sent Brooklyn Kalmikov in alone on a breakaway, and he made no mistake and got the puck behind Welsch to make a beautiful goal.
Seconds later, Kalmikov returned the favor by setting up Linus Hemström for another goal.
With under four minutes remaining in the frame, Robert Cronin buried a quick shot off a faceoff to make it 4-0.
Third Period
Goaltender Brad Arvanitis came within minutes of his first shutout of the season before the Thunder spoiled it. Dan Ebrahim at 17:18 was able to sneak behind Arvanitis to put the Thunder on the board. They would do it again at the final second of regulation with a goal by Josh Filmon. Although the Thunder started to have a comeback, it would not be enough, and the Mariners took the win. Arvanitis finished with 31 saves on 33 shots, securing his 11th win of the season.
The sellout was the Mariners’ 11th in 36 home games this season, capping off the year in front of a historic crowd.
Three Stars of the Game
- Maine Goaltender Brad Arvanitis (31 saves on 33 shots on goal)
- Maine forward Brooklyn Kalmikov (1 goal, 1 assist)
- Maine defenseman Justin Bean (2 assists)
The End of the Road
After a rough season with a 33-35-4, the Mariners will have a long offseason ahead of them. With a plethora of new faces and a new captain, much teamwork strengthening could be the key to the Mariners having a more successful season next year.
ITR 36: Coaching Carousel – Inside The Rink
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