PORTLAND- The Adirondack Thunder got a game winning second period goal from Jake Ryczek on Saturday night, and would break a four game winning streak by the Maine Mariners with a 5-2 East Coast Hockey League victory at the Cross Insurance Arena.
Maine (12-12-3) started strong with an early powerplay goal at 52 seconds of the first period by Nick Master. The Mariners made it 2-0 when Nate Kallen had a shot find the back of the net through traffic at 2:39 of the second. But that unfortunately was the end of the scoring for the hosts. Jordan Kaplan and Shane Harper tied it with tallies at 4:25 and 5:14, with the Ryczek winner coming at 10:54. Robbie Payne added to the advantage making it 4-2 Adirondack at 12:28, and the Thunder ended the scoring when Payne scored an empty netter at 17:30 of the third period.
Master added an assist in the loss for Maine, while Alex Kile, Pascal Laberge, and Zach Malatesta each chipped in one assist each. Callum Booth made 28 saves in net. Payne had three points in the win for Adirondack with the two goals and one assist, while Alex Sakellaropoulos made 32 saves. The Thunder improve to 13-10-2, good for a third place tie with the Mariners in the ECHL North Division. The two teams are in the middle of four straight games including three in a row at the Cross Insurance Arena with one another, with Maine winning Friday night in Portland in comeback fashion 3-2. The Mariners host the Thunder once again on Sunday afternoon at 3.
The Maine Mariners are the East Coast Hockey League Affiliate of the Boston Bruins as first announced on June 30, 2021. Former Maine Black Bear player and UMaine assistant coach Ben Guite is the head coach of the Mariners.
