ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — If nothing else, the Newfoundland Growlers’ first-round ECHL playoff matchup with the Brampton Beast showed a 2-0 series lead doesn’t necessarily translate to a guaranteed ticket to the next round.
The Growlers took a pair of games from the Beast to open the first round of the Kelly Cup postseason at Mile One Centre in St. John’s, but still needed six games — the series-clincher coming in an overtime victory in Game 6 — to finish off Brampton, and move on to the North Division final against the Manchester Monarchs.
The Growlers lost the first game of the Manchester series 3-2 Friday night at Mile One Centre, setting up a critical Game 2 Saturday evening, which the home team won 4-2.
Not saying the rubber-match was a must-win game for the Growlers, but …
“It was real important we got that game … extremely important,” Growlers coach John Snowden admitted Sunday. “You don’t want to spoil two games at home with losses.”
The Growlers are in Manchester, N.H. for the next three games of the second-round series at SNHU Arena beginning Tuesday night. Game 4 is Wednesday with a Game 5 slotted for Friday night.
If the sixth and seventh games are needed, they’ll be played Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7 at Mile One.
“I like the way we built our game Saturday,” Snowden said. “That’s what we’re used to seeing. We defended well, and we got timely scoring.”
Certainly, Zach O’Brien’s timing was on the money, scoring the game-winner with a minute and a half left in regulation time, his team-leading fourth goal of the post season at 18:31 of the third on an unassisted play.
O’Brien also drew two assists, including one on Derian Plouffe’s empty-netter, for a three-point night, giving the St. John’s native nine points in eight playoff games.
O’Brien, by the way, played for the Monarchs when they were in the American Hockey League, winning a Calder Cup with Manchester in 2015.
On Friday, Bokondji Imama’s second goal of the game at 11:50 of the third period proved to be the game-winner.
The Growlers were 7-0-1 against the Monarchs this season, the only fly in the ointment being a 3-2 shootout loss in Manchester in the fourth-final game of the regular season.
The Growlers have gone with Michael Garteig in goal for each of their eight playoff games so far. However, Newfoundland received Eamon McAdam from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies Saturday after he was reassigned when the Toronto Maple Leafs assigned Michael Hutchinson to the Marlies.
Snowden was tight-lipped on who would be getting the start between the pipes for Newfoundland Tuesday night.
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