The Mariners had a victorious weekend when they faced the Reading Royals for two games in Portland. These games came right after a Mariners win on Friday night when they faced the Adirondack Thunder. Saturday night, in net for the Mariners was Kyle Keyser. For the Royals, Anson Thornton. The night started somewhat slow but picked up, especially physically, as the night progressed. No goals were scored in the 1st period, and the only penalties were matching minors for fighting at 14:53, given to Mariners captain Connor Doherty and Royals’ Ryan Devine. Opposite from the 1st period, the 2nd period had four goals, three of which were by the Mariners. Early in the period at 2:46, Mariners’ Jimmy Lambert scored, recent Mariners’ addition Bennett Stockdale and Zach Malatesta having the assists. Reading responded a few minutes later at 5:26 with a goal from Tag Bertuzzi. The Mariners took the lead again at 11:22 in the second with a goal from Alex Kile. For some insurance, Brooklyn Kalmikov made it 3-1 at 15:27 in the second. For penalties in the second, the first was given to Mariners’ defenseman Gabriel Chicoine for an illegal check to the head. At 8:25, Royals’ Mason Millman was called for holding, and at 10:33, Mariners’ Connor Doherty received his second penalty of the night, this time for hooking. Two more goals were scored in the 3rd period, an unassisted goal from Royals’ Yvan Mongo at 5:06 and the final goal of the game at 17:42 by Mariners’ Owen Pederson, making the final score of the night 4-2 in favor of the Mariners. The third period saw the majority of the penalties for the game. Connor Doherty received his third penalty of the night at 3:14, his second of the night for roughing. At 3:46, Royals’ Mason Millman received his second penalty of the night, this time for tripping. Mariners’ Adam Mechura and Royals’ Powell Connor received matching minors for roughing at 4:53 in the period. The next three penalties were against the Royals: Dajon Mingo at 6:19 for tripping, Shane Sellar at 7:54 with a double minor for high-sticking, and Ryan Devine at 12:22 for hooking. Two penalties were called at 13:25, one against Maine’s Alex Kile for hooking and Royals’ Devon Paliani for diving/embellishment. Finally, at the very end of the game, Mariners’ Ethan Ritchie was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Both teams had a change in goaltenders for their Sunday matchup. The Mariners had Brad Arvanitis, while the Royals’ had in Noal Maier. Wasting no time, Mariners’ Owen Pederson got one past Maier at only 1:02 in the first. This was a power-play goal, as Royals’ Shane Sellar was called for hooking at only:46 in the first. The Royals took the lead after two goals in the first, one at 5:13 by Tag Bertuzzi and the other at 12:12 by Tyson Fawcett. The Mariners once again capitalized on a power-play, as Royals’ Devon Paliani was called at 15:56 for high-sticking. Mariners’ Adam Mechura tied up the game only 21 seconds later at 16:17. Mechura also had the final penalty of the period, when he was called a high-sticking double minor at 19:57. Heading into the second with a tied game, the Mariners’ jumped ahead with a goal from Alex Kile at 4:46, and another from Adam Mechura at 13:05. Royals’ Shane Sellar was called for slashing four seconds after Kile’s goal. Mariners’ Connor Doherty was called for roughing, which allowed for the Royals’ Jake Smith to score on the power-play. The Mariners were able to get two more behind the net in the third, one at 8:09 from Fedor Gordeev and the final at 17:15 with an empty netter from Zach Malatesta. Once again, the third period was heavy with penalties. Notably, there were matching 5-minute penalties at 6:25 for Mariners’ Cameron Askew and Royals’ Yvan Mongo for fighting. There were then 11 total penalties called at the very end of the game, six going to the Mariners and five for the Royals. Mariners’ Tyler Drevitch received two minutes for roughing and 10 minutes for game misconduct for continuing the altercation. Connor Doherty received a double minor for roughing and also a 10-minute game misconduct for continuing the altercation. Both Mariners’ Cameron Askew and Austin Albrecht both received 10 minutes for misconduct. For the Royals, Ryan Devine received a double minor for roughing and a 10-minute game misconduct for continuing the altercation. Finally, Royals’ Dajon Mingo received three penalties: 10 minutes for game misconduct for continuing altercation, four minutes for roughing, and a minor for cross-checking.
The Mariners’ had a clean sweep over the weekend, the Mariners currently sit in 4th place in the division and the Reading Royals have fallen to 7th. This upcoming weekend, the Mariners have a three-game home stand versus the Newfoundland Growlers, currently 3rd in the division.
