Published by Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners Media Relations and Broadcast Manager
The shootout was introduced to the NHL coming out of a lockout for the 2015-16 season. The concept was simple: get rid of ties. You know - ties. That weird result that left you with a mixture of feelings, somewhere between disappointment and satisfaction. Sure, it wasn't a loss. But the other guys didn't lose either. Both teams got a point, but nobody truly won. Was it a waste of three hours to get to the same place where you started? There is no tying in baseball (pun intended), or basketball. In football, contrary to Donovan McNabb's belief, you can tie, but it's rare. General consensus seems to be that although the shootout isn't the most popular rule-change ever conceived, it's a heck of a lot better than a tie. The shootout is simply a skills competition, through and through. It doesn't necessarily get you a deserving winner, but it gets you a winner, eventually.
The ECHL has had an interesting history with shootouts, even using the shootout IN PLACE of overtime for six seasons between 1995 and 2001. Games tied at the end of regulation went directly to a shootout. Before the 01-02 season, the ECHL adopted the AHL's four-on-four OT first. Then in concert with both higher leagues, eventually the "3-on-3 then shootout" format that all three affiliated levels have today. Like the AHL, ECHL shootouts were best of fives until 2015-16 when it dropped to three shooters per team, following the NHL's lead again. Usually, the game is over within the first three rounds. An often anti-climactic end to a usually thrilling game, but nonetheless an end that posits a winner and a loser. Every now and then though, a shootout comes along that takes on a life of its own and wipes away all the story lines from the preceding 65 minutes. And so begins the story of St. Patrick's Day 2019 in Portland.
It was the biggest game of the year for the Mariners, at least until the next one. That's just how it seems to go in the North Division playoff race annually. They had lost back-to-back games, seeing a season high seven game point streak come to an end in Worcester the previous evening. Their opponent was the North-leading Newfoundland Growlers who despite dropping four in a row still possessed a talented team, and one that had beaten the Mariners five consecutive times. The Mariners were chasing the game for most of the afternoon, falling behind 1-0 just 22 seconds into the opening period. They trailed by two goals heading to the third, but battled back to tie it as Drew Melanson and Dillan Fox each scored their second goals of the game. Both teams strongly needing the point, the game advanced to OT, and eventually through it.
Let's break down the shootout into three sections: the first six rounds, the middle five, and the final seven. While I'm glad it didn't turn out to go 6-6-6, I was starting to wonder if some supernatural forces weren't taking hold, when the shootout just wouldn't end. Like a twisted-type of hockey purgatory. But as a broadcaster who am I kidding? I was loving it.
ROUNDS 1 - 6
Ferguson, adding to his three point game, beat Chris Nell to open the shootout. Dillan Fox was denied by Eamon McAdam. Nell stopped Marcus Power. Taylor Cammarata slid a five-hole backhand home to tie the shootout. Matt Bradley and Michael McNicholas were each denied (McNicholas by the goal post), pushing the shootout past the regulation three rounds. The next six shooters also failed to score, tying the longest Maine shootout of the season, from three weeks prior, when the Mariners topped Worcester in seven.
ROUNDS 7 - 11
This segment of the shootout brought by far the highest levels of drama in the game. J.J. Piccinich beat Nell to lead off round seven, breaking a string of eight straight no-goals. Brycen Martin was the first defenseman to take a shot. He had to score to keep the game alive, and found room between McAdam's pads. Derian Plouffe was next for Newfoundland and scored to put the Growlers in the advantage again. Dwyer Tschantz held the pressure this time, and with a patient backhand-forehand deke, stretched McAdam out of position, tying it again. Round nine was scoreless (including Zach Tolkinen trying to pull a Nikita Kucherov), but Todd Skirving beat Nell to start the 10th, forcing the hand of Wade Murphy.
Murphy nearly lost the handle as he carried the puck wide to the right but stayed within the rules by keeping the puck moving forward, and found room to McAdam's stick side to once again tie the shootout. Three times in four rounds with their backs against the wall, well beyond their top shootout choices, the Mariners needed to score - and did. Controversy was waiting in round 11.
Growlers defenseman Evan Neugold pulled the puck to his backhand as he crossed the crease, and slid it into the net. Immediately, Nell motioned to the referee that he had tipped the puck with his stick, causing a gathering of officials at center ice. The ruling on the ice of a good goal was quickly overturned - the referee deeming that Nell did indeed touch the puck, which by rule prevents the shooter from retouching. Ryan Ferrill's bid to win the game was stopped by McAdam, forcing this now-legendary shootout to a 12th round.
ROUNDS 12-18
By this point, both teams were into their defensemen, with the Mariners still holding 10th forward Ryan Siiro in their arsenal. Although it wasn't exactly a parade of snipers taking shots, goaltenders Nell and McAdam deserve credit for locking things down. Derek Pratt hit yet another post on Maine's 14th attempt, and after two more scoreless rounds, both teams were out of shooters. After a quick rules check to make sure the backup goalies didn't have to go, it was time for the second time through the lineup. Ferguson and McNicholas, who were each selections in the first three rounds, couldn't get the job done in the 17th. Piccinich couldn't get his second goal of the shootout, and then Riley Armstrong turned back to Wade Murphy.
This time skating straight down the slot, Murphy attacked McAdam head on, the Growlers goalie trying unsuccessfully for a poke check. Murphy didn't miss the opening, ending the shootout, the game, and sending a raucous St. Patrick's Day crowd into a frenzy.
It was easily the longest shootout of the 2018-19 ECHL season and the fourth longest in recorded league history. Two 21-rounders took place, most recently in February of 2013 when the Evansville IceMen topped the Florida Everblades. In October of 1992, the Birmingham Bulls defeated the Hampton Road Admirals, 7-6 in a 21 round affair. The one other marathon featured the Fresno Monsters defeating the Phoenix Roadrunners in 20 rounds - November of 2008.
St. Patrick's Day 2019 won't be one soon forgotten by the 3,000 strong that spent the day at the Cross Insurance Arena. Nor will it be forgotten by the 32 skaters and four goalies that suited up that afternoon. It was one of many magical moments the Mariners have created on their home ice in their inaugural season, and a game that will go down in Portland hockey and ECHL lore.
Also, it was much, much more fun than a tie.
 |
| Wade Murphy was the unlikely hero of the fourth longest shootout in ECHL history |
The shootout was introduced to the NHL coming out of a lockout for the 2015-16 season. The concept was simple: get rid of ties. You know - ties. That weird result that left you with a mixture of feelings, somewhere between disappointment and satisfaction. Sure, it wasn't a loss. But the other guys didn't lose either. Both teams got a point, but nobody truly won. Was it a waste of three hours to get to the same place where you started? There is no tying in baseball (pun intended), or basketball. In football, contrary to Donovan McNabb's belief, you can tie, but it's rare. General consensus seems to be that although the shootout isn't the most popular rule-change ever conceived, it's a heck of a lot better than a tie. The shootout is simply a skills competition, through and through. It doesn't necessarily get you a deserving winner, but it gets you a winner, eventually.
The ECHL has had an interesting history with shootouts, even using the shootout IN PLACE of overtime for six seasons between 1995 and 2001. Games tied at the end of regulation went directly to a shootout. Before the 01-02 season, the ECHL adopted the AHL's four-on-four OT first. Then in concert with both higher leagues, eventually the "3-on-3 then shootout" format that all three affiliated levels have today. Like the AHL, ECHL shootouts were best of fives until 2015-16 when it dropped to three shooters per team, following the NHL's lead again. Usually, the game is over within the first three rounds. An often anti-climactic end to a usually thrilling game, but nonetheless an end that posits a winner and a loser. Every now and then though, a shootout comes along that takes on a life of its own and wipes away all the story lines from the preceding 65 minutes. And so begins the story of St. Patrick's Day 2019 in Portland.
 |
| It was Beacon's first birthday and all his friends were there! The Mariners delivered quite a present. |
It was the biggest game of the year for the Mariners, at least until the next one. That's just how it seems to go in the North Division playoff race annually. They had lost back-to-back games, seeing a season high seven game point streak come to an end in Worcester the previous evening. Their opponent was the North-leading Newfoundland Growlers who despite dropping four in a row still possessed a talented team, and one that had beaten the Mariners five consecutive times. The Mariners were chasing the game for most of the afternoon, falling behind 1-0 just 22 seconds into the opening period. They trailed by two goals heading to the third, but battled back to tie it as Drew Melanson and Dillan Fox each scored their second goals of the game. Both teams strongly needing the point, the game advanced to OT, and eventually through it.
 |
| Dillan Fox's two-goal game was his third in the last nine |
Let's break down the shootout into three sections: the first six rounds, the middle five, and the final seven. While I'm glad it didn't turn out to go 6-6-6, I was starting to wonder if some supernatural forces weren't taking hold, when the shootout just wouldn't end. Like a twisted-type of hockey purgatory. But as a broadcaster who am I kidding? I was loving it.
ROUNDS 1 - 6
Ferguson, adding to his three point game, beat Chris Nell to open the shootout. Dillan Fox was denied by Eamon McAdam. Nell stopped Marcus Power. Taylor Cammarata slid a five-hole backhand home to tie the shootout. Matt Bradley and Michael McNicholas were each denied (McNicholas by the goal post), pushing the shootout past the regulation three rounds. The next six shooters also failed to score, tying the longest Maine shootout of the season, from three weeks prior, when the Mariners topped Worcester in seven.
 |
| Newfoundland's Brady Ferguson had three points and a shootout goal in the game |
ROUNDS 7 - 11
This segment of the shootout brought by far the highest levels of drama in the game. J.J. Piccinich beat Nell to lead off round seven, breaking a string of eight straight no-goals. Brycen Martin was the first defenseman to take a shot. He had to score to keep the game alive, and found room between McAdam's pads. Derian Plouffe was next for Newfoundland and scored to put the Growlers in the advantage again. Dwyer Tschantz held the pressure this time, and with a patient backhand-forehand deke, stretched McAdam out of position, tying it again. Round nine was scoreless (including Zach Tolkinen trying to pull a Nikita Kucherov), but Todd Skirving beat Nell to start the 10th, forcing the hand of Wade Murphy.
 |
| Dwyer's Dangle |
Murphy nearly lost the handle as he carried the puck wide to the right but stayed within the rules by keeping the puck moving forward, and found room to McAdam's stick side to once again tie the shootout. Three times in four rounds with their backs against the wall, well beyond their top shootout choices, the Mariners needed to score - and did. Controversy was waiting in round 11.
Growlers defenseman Evan Neugold pulled the puck to his backhand as he crossed the crease, and slid it into the net. Immediately, Nell motioned to the referee that he had tipped the puck with his stick, causing a gathering of officials at center ice. The ruling on the ice of a good goal was quickly overturned - the referee deeming that Nell did indeed touch the puck, which by rule prevents the shooter from retouching. Ryan Ferrill's bid to win the game was stopped by McAdam, forcing this now-legendary shootout to a 12th round.
ROUNDS 12-18
By this point, both teams were into their defensemen, with the Mariners still holding 10th forward Ryan Siiro in their arsenal. Although it wasn't exactly a parade of snipers taking shots, goaltenders Nell and McAdam deserve credit for locking things down. Derek Pratt hit yet another post on Maine's 14th attempt, and after two more scoreless rounds, both teams were out of shooters. After a quick rules check to make sure the backup goalies didn't have to go, it was time for the second time through the lineup. Ferguson and McNicholas, who were each selections in the first three rounds, couldn't get the job done in the 17th. Piccinich couldn't get his second goal of the shootout, and then Riley Armstrong turned back to Wade Murphy.
This time skating straight down the slot, Murphy attacked McAdam head on, the Growlers goalie trying unsuccessfully for a poke check. Murphy didn't miss the opening, ending the shootout, the game, and sending a raucous St. Patrick's Day crowd into a frenzy.
It was easily the longest shootout of the 2018-19 ECHL season and the fourth longest in recorded league history. Two 21-rounders took place, most recently in February of 2013 when the Evansville IceMen topped the Florida Everblades. In October of 1992, the Birmingham Bulls defeated the Hampton Road Admirals, 7-6 in a 21 round affair. The one other marathon featured the Fresno Monsters defeating the Phoenix Roadrunners in 20 rounds - November of 2008.
 |
| Take us home, Wade |
The longest NHL shootout was a 20-rounder between Washington and Florida on December 16th, 2014. Just four days before yours truly broadcast 20 rounds in the NAHL between two Pennsylvanian rivals: the Keystone Ice Miners and Johnstown Tomahawks. That's right: Sunday wasn't the longest shootout I've ever broadcast:
St. Patrick's Day 2019 won't be one soon forgotten by the 3,000 strong that spent the day at the Cross Insurance Arena. Nor will it be forgotten by the 32 skaters and four goalies that suited up that afternoon. It was one of many magical moments the Mariners have created on their home ice in their inaugural season, and a game that will go down in Portland hockey and ECHL lore.
Also, it was much, much more fun than a tie.
 |
| My scoresheet. This one is going in a frame. |
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