By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
Through four games for the Maine Mariners in the 2026 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, things were looking right. The Mariners had a convincing 3-1 series lead in the North Division Semifinals against the Adirondack Thunder. Then, the Mariners fell in overtime in Games 5 and 6, forcing the series to seven games.
In the 57th all-time Game 7 in ECHL playoff history, the Mariners gave their fans and the state of Maine a memory forever. The Mariners defeated the Thunder 3-1 in Game 7 at Cross Insurance Arena to win the series. The Mariners have now won a playoff series for the first time in franchise history.
First Period
The first period saw both teams create quality scoring chances. The Thunder had a golden chance to score the game’s first goal when Mariners forward Ty Cheveldayoff was called for a hooking penalty 7:31 into the game, but the team failed to score. The Thunder outshot the Mariners 9-8 in the period, but the game was scoreless heading into the first intermission. Mariners goaltender Luke Cavallin and Thunder goaltender Jeremy Brodeur were both solid to start the game.
Second Period
The second period began with the Mariners and Thunder trying to get the game’s first goal. Cavallin and Brodeur each made saves for their teams, then the Thunder got their second power play of the game when Mariners forward Xander Lamppa was called for a slashing penalty. Fifteen seconds into the power play, forward Tag Bertuzzi scored 9:41 into the period to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. The Mariners and their fans grew frustrated with not scoring a goal, then momentum arrived.
With 1:14 remaining in the period, Mariners forward Wyllum Deveaux scored on a breakaway to tie the game at one. However, the momentum from Deveaux’s goal was short-lived when Mariners forward Lamppa was called for his second penalty of the game, this time a double-minor penalty for high-sticking with less than four seconds remaining in the period. The Mariners and Thunder were tied at one heading into the second intermission, setting up a huge third period.
Third Period
The Mariners had 3:57 of penalty kill time to begin the third period. After the first penalty of Lamppa’s double-minor was killed off, the Marienrs got a break when Thunder defenseman Jeremy Hanzel was called for a holding penalty, which ruined the Thunder’s power play with 1:51 remaining on it. The Mariners wouldn’t score on the little power play they had after Lamppa was out of the penalty box.
After that, the Mariners continued to put offensive pressure on Brodeur, but he made big saves to keep it tied. The Mariners outshot the Thunder 15-1 overall in the period. Overtime appeared to be on people’s minds, then one Mariner said it would not happen. With 3:50 remaining in regulation, defenseman Nick Anderson scored to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead. It was Anderson’s first goal scored since Jan. 2, 2026, and arguably the biggest goal in Mariners history. Mariners forward Shawn Element added an empty-net goal with 33 seconds left to ice the game, giving the team the series win. Cavallin made 20 saves in the win.
The Mariners lost 11 of 15 meetings to the Thunder in the regular season. However, the Mariners flipped the script incredibly well when it mattered most in the playoffs.
Round 2 Opponent
By defeating the Thunder, the Mariners will face the Wheeling Nailers in the North Division Finals next round. The Nailers are rested after defeating the Reading Royals in five games this past Saturday. The Nailers won three of the five meetings against the Nailers this season. The last meeting was a 3-2 shootout win by the Mariners on Jan. 28 in Portland.
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