ST. JOHN’S, NL – December 8, 2023 – Brock Caufield’s second goal of the game at 5:42 of overtime spoiled a Mariners comeback, but Maine rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a point in a 4-3 OT loss in the weekend opener at Mary Brown’s Centre. The Mariners now have points in five straight games (3-0-2).
Newfoundland broke the seal just 1:43 into the game, when Neil Shea found a loose puck in the slot after a Lincoln Erne point shot, spun around, and beat Shane Starrett to make it 1-0 Growlers. The Mariners had three power play chances in the opening frame, including a double-minor high-sticking penalty, but couldn’t capitalize, and trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.
The Growlers scored a power play goal to make it 2-0 at 7:42 of the second period, when Jackson Berezowski scooped up a rebound and pushed it around the pad of Starrett. Ryan Mast’s first professional goal got Maine on the board at 12:28, as his blast from the top of the right circle beat Luke Cavallin through a screen. Two more goals came quickly in the next minute as Brock Caufield crossed into the slot to beat Starrett at 13:57, but Adam Mechura responded by finishing an Ethan Keppen feed at 14:43, as a delayed penalty was pending against the Growlers.
Trailing by one in the third, leading goal-scorer Reid Stefanson notched his 8th, one-timing a bad angle shot from the left circle off a Jimmy Lambert feed from behind the net. Tied up a three, the Mariners penalty kill came through clutch, denying two Growlers opportunities in the third. A mundane overtime was ended at 5:42 when Caufield finished a give-and-go with Cory Dennis.
Each team totaled 34 shots in the game, as Cavallin stopped 31 and Starrett, 30.
The Mariners (7-8-2-0) have two more meetings with the Growlers this weekend: Saturday night at 5:30 PM ET and Sunday afternoon at 2:30 PM. They return home on Saturday, December 16th for “Pickleball Night” at 6 PM, also against the Growlers and the annual Teddy Bear Toss on Sunday, December 17th at 3 PM against Adirondack. Additional promotional information and single game tickets can be found at MarinersOfMaine.com. Fans can also purchase single game tickets at the Ware-Butler Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena. Group discounts and ticket packages are available through the Maine Mariners front office by calling 833-GO-MAINE or visiting the office at 94 Free St. in Portland. The 2023-2024 season is presented by Hannaford to Go.
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