Lions force overtime but cannot finish
The Trois-Rivières Lions were edged 3-2 by the Maine Mariners in overtime Friday night, ending a closely contested Rock Night matchup with a late defeat. The Lions generated more shots than their visitors, holding a 36-33 advantage by the end of the game, but Maine produced the deciding goal in the extra period.
The result was settled at 3:32 of overtime, when Maine’s Linus Hemstrom scored. Max Andreev and Nick Anderson were credited with the assists on the winning play. The goal came after both teams had moved into the three-on-three portion of the game, where the available space created several scoring opportunities before Hemstrom ended the contest.
Trois-Rivières began the game with the stronger shot total, directing 17 shots on goal in the opening period compared with four from Maine. Neither team scored during that first frame, although the period featured four minor penalties. Alexander Legkov, David Jankowski, Jaxon Bellamy and Dylan MacKinnon were each assessed two-minute penalties for interference, hooking, high-sticking and slashing, respectively.
A game decided in the final minutes
The scoring opened in the second period. Maine’s Kalle Vaisanen put the Mariners ahead at 11:45, with Ben Allison and Mason Primeau recording the assists. The Lions answered at 17:54 through Anthony Beauregard, who was set up by Mathias Laferrière and Isaac Dufort. The exchange left the teams tied at one after 40 minutes.
Trois-Rivières then moved in front early in the third. Robert Cronin scored at 3:12, assisted by Max Andreev and Antonio Venuto. The lead lasted until the closing moments, when Mathieu Bizier tied the game for Maine at 19:41. Jacob Dion and Brooklyn Kalmikov received credit for the assists, sending the matchup to overtime.
| Category | Trois-Rivières Lions | Maine Mariners |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 2 | 3 |
| Shots on goal | 36 | 33 |
| Overtime winner | — | Linus Hemstrom |
Physical play and special-teams pressure
The game also carried a physical edge. In the second period, Michael Underwood and Édouard Charron were each given five-minute major penalties for fighting at 12:13. Other penalties in that period went to Wyllum Deveaux for hooking, Beauregard for tripping and Xavier Bernard for interference. Laferrière and Cronin later received third-period minor penalties for roughing and slashing.
The Lions’ shot advantage was most pronounced at the start, but the numbers became more balanced as the game progressed. Trois-Rivières recorded nine shots in the second and eight in the third, while Maine had 14 and 11 in those periods. In overtime, the Mariners held a 4-2 edge in shots, and that extra pressure ultimately produced the winning goal.
For the Lions, the contest offered a narrow margin between earning a point and taking a loss. They twice responded after Maine scored, first through Beauregard and then through Cronin, before surrendering the late equalizer. The overtime finish left the home side on the wrong end of a one-goal result, despite its overall shot advantage and a strong opening period.
- Final: Maine Mariners 3, Trois-Rivières Lions 2, overtime.
- Top local scoring details: Anthony Beauregard and Robert Cronin scored for Trois-Rivières.
- Overtime: Linus Hemstrom scored at 3:32 to decide the game.
