Mariners Play Spoiler To Adirondack's Teddy Bear Toss Night

It was Teddy Bear Toss Night at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, as the Thunder hosted the Maine Mariners Saturday.

Thousands of stuffed animals hit the ice after the Thunder’s first goal, but it would be the most fun the sellout crowd of 4,840 would have as the Mariners came away with a 3-1 victory.

Brooklyn Kalmikov potted two goals as part of a three-goal second period for the Mariners, who picked up their third consecutive road victory.

The opening period was scoreless, but that was more than made up for in the middle frame. The Mariners, who were 7-2-1 when scoring first coming into Saturday, did so again for the fifth straight time. Kalmikov earned his seventh goal of the season at the 9:49 mark after Carter Johnson found him in front with a beautiful pass from behind the Adirondack net. Patrick Guay picked up the secondary assist.

Over three minutes later, the Thunder’s Ryan Wheeler notched a power-play goal to tie the game 1-1 and send teddy bears flying onto the ice.

Wheeler scored on a rebound in front of the net, with Sam Ruffin and Dylan Wendt both earning helpers.

After the stuffed animals were removed, the Mariners did the rest of the cleanup work in the scoring department. Christian Sarlo tipped in a Justin Bean pass at 12:59 to put Maine back in front 2-1.

At 16:18, Kalmikov netted his second of the night and eighth of the season, taking a breakaway pass and slipping a shot between the pads of Thunder goaltender David Fessenden for a 3-1 Maine lead.

That would be all the scoring on the night, as the Mariner defense and goalie Ryan Bischel combined to allow Adirondack just one shot on goal in the third period. Bischel made 23 saves to earn his seventh victory of the season. Fessenden stopped 21 of 24 shots in the losing effort.

The Mariners, now 9-11-2 on the season, continue their road trip with two games next weekend in Worcester against the Railers before the holiday break.

Adirondack (10-10-1) is back home next Saturday to host the Reading Royals.