The Maine Mariners got a game winning second period goal from Linus Hemstrom on Wednesday night, and defeated the Adirondack Thunder 5-2 in Game 3 of an ECHL North Division Semifinal playoff series at Harding Mizzotti Arena in Glen Falls, New York. The Mariners now take back a home ice advantage and lead the best of seven 2-1.
Maine dominated large portions of the game and scored the first three goals of the night on tallies from Antonio Venuto and Ty Cheveldayoff in the first period, and the eventual winner by Hemstrom in the second that made it 3-0. Tanner Edwards got one back for the Thunder in that middle stanza, and a marker from Tag Bertuzzi early in the third cut it to 3-2. Maine put it away though when Shawn Element deflected a point shot past Jeremy Brodeur about five minutes after the Bertuzzi goal, and Max Andreev iced it with a late empty netter in the final minute. Venuto and Andreev both had one goal and one assist, and Jacob Hudson had two assists in the win. Brad Arvanitis made 16 saves, as the Mariners outshot the Thunder 41-18. Game 4 is Friday night in New York at 7 p.m.
