By: Ryan Finch | Follow me on Twitter/X @RyanFinch0815
The Maine Mariners couldn’t have asked for a much better start to their preseason, putting together a pair of impressive performances against the Worcester Railers and outscoring their rivals 11-3 across two games. From an explosive offensive opening on Friday night to a strong comeback and defensive effort on Saturday, Maine finished its preseason schedule unbeaten and gave fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the 2026-27 campaign.
With the regular season approaching, the Mariners showed a combination of offensive depth, contributions from returning players and production from newcomers. While preseason results don’t guarantee regular-season success, Maine’s ability to find scoring from throughout the lineup was an encouraging sign for head coach and general manager Rick Kowalsky.
Maine opened the weekend with a commanding 7-2 victory at the Harold Alfond Forum in Biddeford on Friday night, scoring three goals in the first 5:05 and never looking back. Thirteen different Mariners recorded a point, with Max Andreev and Jack Works leading the way with three-point performances.
Captain Wyllum Deveaux got the scoring started just 1:34 into the contest, finishing a one-timer from the right circle. Andreev followed at 3:11, and Works added another at 5:05 to give Maine a 3-0 advantage before the game was even six minutes old. David Jankowski added a fourth goal later in the opening period, sending the Mariners into the first intermission with a commanding lead.
Defenseman Jack Bar extended the advantage to 5-0 midway through the second period, cleaning up a chance around the net. Worcester eventually got on the board with a power-play goal from MacAuley Carson, but Maine responded with two more tallies from Ben Allison, who scored twice in a little over three minutes to make it 7-1. The Railers added a third-period goal, but the outcome was never in doubt.
The opener showcased Maine’s offensive potential, with Andreev and Works each finishing with a goal and two assists, while Allison’s two-goal performance added another bright spot. Goaltender Luke Cavallin stopped 12 of 13 shots through two periods before Christian Propp took over for the third.
The Mariners faced a different challenge Saturday night at the Worcester Ice Center, falling behind early before responding with four unanswered goals to earn a 4-1 win and complete the preseason sweep. Maine finished the exhibition schedule 2-0, while Worcester went winless in its two preseason games.
Worcester opened the scoring at 5:21 of the first period when Lincoln Hatten redirected a shot from Adam Samuelsson past the Maine defense. The Mariners answered less than four minutes later, as Works finished a chance from the high slot after receiving a pass from Ryan McGuire, tying the game at one.
Maine took control early in the second period. At 3:55, Kalle Vaisanen beat Railers goaltender William Lavallière with a shot high to the glove side, giving the Mariners their first lead of the night. The visitors then tightened things up defensively, limiting Worcester to just four shots in the middle frame.
The Railers pushed for an equalizer in the third, but Maine held firm. Defenseman Dylan MacKinnon provided some breathing room with a goal at 14:45, finishing a play set up by Antonio Venuto. Deveaux then sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 17:09, completing a strong performance from the captain.
Goaltender Max Lundgren was a major factor in Saturday’s win, stopping 24 of 25 shots. Worcester actually finished with a 25-21 advantage in shots, but Lundgren’s performance helped Maine protect its lead and close out the sweep. McGuire also delivered a strong night, recording two assists, while Deveaux finished with a goal and an assist.
Beyond the final scores, the weekend offered several positive takeaways for Maine. Andreev and Works demonstrated their offensive capabilities in Friday’s opener, Allison found the net twice, and the second game featured contributions from Vaisanen, MacKinnon and Deveaux. McGuire also played a key role in Saturday’s victory with two assists, while Lundgren provided a steady presence in goal.
The performances from the goaltenders were worth watching, too. Cavallin started Friday’s contest before Propp handled the third period, and Lundgren delivered Saturday’s win. With the regular season ahead, those preseason appearances gave the coaching staff additional opportunities to evaluate its options between the pipes.
There is still work to do before the games count in the standings, and exhibition hockey comes with different lineups and circumstances than a full regular-season matchup. Still, scoring 11 goals over two games while allowing only three is an encouraging start for a team looking to build on last season’s franchise-record 93-point campaign and historic playoff run.
The Mariners now turn their attention to the games that matter. Maine opens its regular season on Saturday, October 17, at Worcester, before returning to Portland for its home opener against the Railers on Saturday, October 24, at 1 p.m. at Cross Insurance Arena.
The preseason sweep gives Maine momentum heading into the new campaign, but the bigger test begins next week. If the Mariners can carry over the offensive depth, defensive commitment and goaltending performances they displayed against Worcester, they will have a solid foundation to begin their pursuit of another successful season.
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