Game One
The Maine Mariners started this series with some fresh faces at home after some major trades to their starting lineup just before the Holidays. This would be a test of whether or not the additions will lead the team to more success.
Period One
The game got off to an intense start, with both teams bringing aggressive energy right from the opening puck drop. The Mariners came out strong with six shots on goal within the first two minutes. Overall, Maine registered nine shots on goal, while the Admirals had 12.
The first goal came at 9:37 when McCallum scored for the Mariners, assisted by Carter Johnson and Cory Dennis. Just 27 seconds later, Smirnov put one in for Norfolk to give them a brief tie. However, the Admirals responded quickly again at 17:35, by Ben Zloty, assisted by Fornåå Svensson and Reifenberger.
The Mariners faced a penalty at 6:36. Bean was called for delay of game, but Norfolk could not capitalize on 5 v 4. The power play did not last, as Zloty was called for slashing at 19:46, allowing the Mariners on the power play to end the period.
Period Two
The second period was dominated by penalty trouble and wild momentum shifts. The Mariners started with much penalty time, as Kalmivkov was sent to the box for slashing.
Bean scored just under two minutes in, with Lambert assisting. About five minutes later, the Admirals got behind Maier once again. This time with Ryan Chyzowski and assists by Filip Fornåå Svensson and McDougall.
However, the Mariners found a spark when McCallum scored a power-play goal at 8:44, assisted by Kalmikov. That seemed to rally the team momentarily, but the Admirals continued to press, and at 15:00, they added another goal from Sean Montgomery, assisted by Pavel Padakin and Darick Louis-Jean.
With the Mariners shorthanded, the Admirals dominated the 5-on-3 power play. There were a series of amazing saves by Maier, but what would get through him at 18:32 was Chyzowski, assisted by Zloty and Smirnov.
With just seven seconds left in the period, the Admirals scored again, making it 8-3, leaving the Mariners with a steep uphill battle heading into the third period.
Period Three
The final frame saw even more physicality and an avalanche of shots on goal. Both teams were determined to make something happen, but the referees said otherwise. Bean suffered a delay of the game and Yavash for hooking.
Despite the Mariners trying to stay competitive, the Admirals kept piling on the pressure. At 6:58, #10 scored an unassisted goal to increase the Admirals’ lead to 9-3. The Mariners, though hard-working, couldn’t capitalize on their power plays, and their lack of success on the man advantage continued to haunt them.
In one painful moment, McCallum took a puck to the throat, causing a stoppage in play, but he managed to shake it off and return to the ice.
With just minutes remaining, the Mariners’ troubles continued. They even scored an own goal in an unfortunate turn of events, putting the final nail in the coffin. The ending score would be 10-3.
Game Two
The Mariners went into game two of the series, and they are already looking better into the first as they would have Bischel back in net.
Period One
The first period saw the Admirals coming out strong, dominating the early part of the game both in terms of shot attempts and overall pressure. The Mariners struggled to maintain possession, often fumbling the puck or making rushed passes that led to turnovers. The Admirals capitalized on this sloppy play.
At the 3:30 mark, the Admirals opened the scoring when Montgomery and Zloty fired one past the Bischel, making it 1-0. The Mariners were able to answer back at 9:27 when Lambert with Berger scored to tie the game. Despite the Mariners’ goal, it was clear that the Admirals were the more dominant team in the opening period, with a substantial 10-4 shot advantage.
The Mariners took the lone penalty of the period for tripping. Overall, the Mariners struggled in the opening frame, particularly with their passing, as they often appeared disjointed and unable to execute clean breakouts. There was a palpable sense of confusion on the ice as they failed to connect with teammates on several occasions. Meanwhile, the Admirals took full advantage of these miscues, capitalizing on the Mariners’ mistakes and controlling much of the period.
Period Two
The Mariners seemed to have found their rhythm in the second. They had a significant turnaround for the Mariners, who came out looking like a completely different team. They began to execute cleaner passes, establish better puck control, and take charge of the play. The shots on goal flipped dramatically, with the Mariners leading 21-10.
The scoring kicked off early in the second when Wyllum Deveaux put the Mariners on top at 5:43. The Mariners didn’t stop there, and at 10:40, Owen Pederson scored with assists from Lambert and Bean, extending their lead. Just over two minutes later, at 12:41, Lambert and Sarlo connected for another goal, making it 4-1 in favor of the Mariners.
There were a few penalties, with Lambert called for cross-checking and Osmunderson penalized for tripping. Neither team was able to capitalize on the power plays.
The Mariners gained momentum, regaining their confidence and tightening up their game. Their puck movement became much smoother, and they were able to exploit the space the Admirals left open. Additionally, the Mariners successfully shut down most of the Admirals’ offensive attempts, limiting their shots on goal and asserting control over the period.
Period Three
Less than two minutes into the third, the Admirals struck first with a goal by Montgomery, assisted by Padakin and Kelly. The Admirals built on their momentum as the period went on. Just shy of 12 minutes in, they found the back of the net again. This time, Fleurent and Yavash combined to score, leveling the game for Norfolk.
In the last minutes of the game, Maine was given a power play after Justin Young got a double minor for high-sticking. The Admirals would empty their net, but Jimmy Lambert was able to push the Mariners up another goal. The Final score was 5-3.
Amazing Sunday Night for Jimmy Lambert and the Road Ahead
With three goals in one afternoon, center Jimmy Lambert was the first star of the game Sunday night. His goal late in the game would secure the Mariner’s win.
There ended up a stark difference in games in this series, which Lambert claims was a team effort.
“We had good pep talk… sometimes a lot goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t. I mean, it was a really bad game last night, but I saw it’s all of how you respond. And I thought that our team responded the best way that we could, and we got a win. It’s tough to come back from losing a game like that, so to be able to come back less than 24 hours later and play a full 60 minutes and get the win is it’s very important for a change.”
Xander Laampa on the bounce back performance on Sundat
The Mariners are heading into a road series in the Midwest. They look to pick up some more wins before returning home for a three-game weekend.
When asked what the team’s mentality was going into this road trip, Lambert said a few important remedies.
Just keep playing full 60 minutes, I think for our team, that’s the recipe for success. You can’t take five, 10, 15 or even a full period off. It’s important to be pedal to the metal the entire game because as we saw last night, you can get scored on two, three goals very quickly, so it’s very important to have your pedal to the floor that will not all 60.”
The Mariners’ midwest road trip makes stops in Indiana, Cincinnati, and Fort Wayne before they come back home for their Pride night on January 24th.
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