YARMOUTH, N.S. — The Eastlink South Division Final playoff series didn’t get off to the start the Yarmouth Mariners had hoped for.
But this is a best-of-seven game series.
The Mariners fell 5-2 to the Lumberjacks on March 30, with the last two Jack’s goals scored on the Mariners’ empty net as they added an extra attacker in the final two minutes to try to tie the game.
Game 2 of the MHL Canadian Tire Cup division final series goes Monday evening in Bridgewater. The playoff series returns to Yarmouth on April 3 for Game 3.
Yarmouth’s return to the ice was their first game since sweeping the Truro Bearcats in the first playoff round on March 21. The Lumberjack’s were back on the ice after their double overtime win over the Amherst Ramblers in Game 7 of their semifinal series on March 27.
In this first division final playoff game, South Shore held a 2-0 lead after two periods on goals by Brandon Stone and Logan O’Neil. Yarmouth closed the gap to 2-1 early in the third on a goal by Brent Broaders (Matt Barron, Landon Quinney). South Shore later pulled ahead 3-1 with a powerplay goal by Nicolas Tardiff, who also later extended the Jacks’ lead to 4-1 with an empty net goal at 18:33.
Matt Barron (Brett Crossley) scored on the power play with 37 seconds remaining for a 4-2 score, but South Shore’s Bair Gendunov added another empty net goal with 8 seconds left in the game.
In net for the Mariners, Tyler Caseley stopped 25 of 28 shots. For the Lumberjacks, Ty Grant made 26 saves on 28 shots.
In the Eastlink North Division Final Game 1 on March 30, Campbellton shut out Summerside 2-0. Their Game 2 is being held Tuesday, April 2.
The remaining playoff schedule plays out like this:
Game 2 – Monday, April 1, 7:00 PM – Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre
Game 3 – Wednesday, April 3, 7:00 PM – Mariners Centre
Game 4 – Friday, April 5, 7:00 PM – Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre
Game 5 – Sunday, April 7, 7:00 PM – Mariners Centre*
Game 6 – Tuesday, April 9, 7:00 PM – Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre*
Game 7 – Thursday, April 11, 7:00 PM – Mariners Centre*
*If necessary
Mariners-Lumberjacks regular season matchups
Yarmouth 5 – South Shore 1: Sept 27
South Shore 5 – Yarmouth 4: Oct. 13
South Shore 5 – Yarmouth 4 (OT): Jan. 5
Yarmouth 4 – South Shore 3: Feb 7
South Shore 6 – Yarmouth 4: Feb. 8
Yarmouth 4 – South Shore 3: Feb. 15
South Shore 7 – Yarmouth 6 (SO): March 3
