By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
Through five games of the North Division Semifinals series in the 2026 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Maine Mariners appeared to have had control against the Adirondack Thunder, having a 3-1 series lead. Now, the Mariners are fighting for their playoff lives after the Thunder won the past two games, forcing the series to go the distance.
The Mariners host the Thunder at Cross Insurance Arena in Game 7 in Portland, Maine, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. According to ECHL’s website, tonight is the 57th all-time Game 7 in ECHL playoff history. The winner of the Mariners-Thunder series will advance to the Wheeling Nailers in the North Division Finals.
After the Mariners won 5-4 in Game 4 against the Thunder, they appeared to be in the driver’s seat. The Thunder would then play with desperation, facing elimination. The Thunder forced a Game 7 in the same fashion as the past two games.
In Game 5 this past Saturday, the Thunder won 3-2 in overtime at home to force a Game 6 back in Portland, with forward Justin Taylor scoring the overtime winner. The Mariners would go on to waste a two-goal game from forward Jacob Hudson. Last night in Game 6, the Mariners had control of the game to advance to the next round. Hudson scored against Thunder goaltender Jeremy Brodeur 5:49 into the second period, which helped give the team a 1-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
The Thunder were fighting to keep their season alive in the final minutes of the game. Then, with 1:23 remaining in regulation and Brodeur at the bench for the extra attacker, Thunder forward Tag Bertuzzi scored to tie the game at one against Mariners goaltender Luke Cavallin. The Thunder outshot the Mariners 8-1 in the third period, and Bertuzzi’s goal helped force overtime.
The Mariners faced the same scenario as in Game 5: score in overtime and advance, or play another game if the Thunder found a way to win. Despite the Mariners outshooting the Thunder 7-5 in overtime, Thunder defenseman Jeremy Hanzel scored the overtime winner with 7:48 remaining to force a Game 7 to be needed tonight.
Bertuzzi and Hanzel each scored a goal and recorded an assist, and Brodeur made 28 saves in the win. Cavallin made 23 saves in the loss for the Mariners. Cavallin got the start in Game 6 after not playing in the past three games due to Brad Arvanitis starting each of the three games. All three losses the Mariners have had against the Thunder in the series have been decided by one goal.
Since the franchise’s first season in 2018-19, the Mariners have played only one Game 7, a 2-0 loss to the Thunder in the 2024 North Division Semifinals. The Mariners can make history, either in a good or bad way, tonight. A win would give the Mariners their first playoff series win in franchise history, but a loss would give the team the awful 3-1 blown series lead.
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