PORTLAND, ME – January 3, 2025 – The Maine Mariners dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Tahoe Knight Monsters on Friday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. Brennan Kapcheck netted the game winner just :42 into sudden death to give Tahoe the victory in the first ever meeting between the two teams.
The Mariners played a strong opening period and were rewarded with the first goal of the game, late in the frame. Christian Berger moved the puck up the left wing to Jimmy Lambert, who skated in on a 2-on-1 and wristed one past Tahoe netminder Jordan Papirny at 18:10. The Knight Monsters tied the game with a power play goal at 19:36 when Simon Pinard beat Ryan Bischel with a wrister in the slot. Maine outshot Tahoe 15-9 in the opening frame.
Maine regained its lead midway through the second period when Lynden McCallum, recently acquired in a trade, ripped a shot top shelf from the slot at 8:54. On the goal, Tristan Thompson, also debuting for the Mariners, collected an assist. Tahoe once again answered, when Jake McGrew put one off the post and in at 12:59 on a scrambly play in front of the Mariners net. It was a 2-2 game after 40 minutes.
The game remained tied through the third as Maine outshot the Knight Monsters 11-5 in the third and 36-30 through regulation. Kapcheck skated in on a breakway in the first minute of OT and although fanning on his deke attempt, slid the puck through Bischel for the game winner.
The Mariners (11-14-3) continue their series with the Knight Monsters on Saturday night at the Cross Insurance Arena. It's “Throwback Night,” featuring $8 tickets, specialty jerseys (available on auction), and alumni appearances. The puck drops at 6 PM. The Threekend concludes with “Girls Night Out” on Sunday at 3 PM. Single game tickets are available at MarinersOfMaine.com or at the Hammond Lumber Company Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena. For more information on ticket packages and group discounts, fans can call 833-GO-MAINE, go to MarinersOfMaine.com, or visit the Mariners front office at 94 Free Street in Portland.