During their first-ever ECHL playoff run, the Newfoundland Growlers have made a habit of winning close games.
It was no different Friday night in Estero, Fla., where the Growlers opened their Eastern Conference final with a 2-0 win over the Florida Everblades.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is tonight (8:30 p.m. NT) in Estero.
Of Newfoundland’s nine wins so far this post-season, five have been by one goal, while three others — including Friday night’s victory — were by two goals and featured an empty-netter.
That’s allowed the Growlers to make the most of whatever offence they’ve manage to create each night; Newfoundland has scored 35 goals in 13 playoff games, an average of just 2.7 tallies per outing.
They did it with ;ess than that on Friday, getting a pair of third-period markers — Giorgio Estephan’s eventual game-winner that came with just six-and-a-half minutes remaining in the third period and Scott Pooley’s tally into an empty net in the waning moments of the contest.
Of course, producing wins with that sort of offensive output requires a stout defence and that’s what the Growlers have been getting, in particular because of the netminding of Michael Garteig, who made 32 saves Friday night in posting his — and the franchise’s — first-ever playoff shutout.
Garteig has been Newfoundland’s netminder throughout the playoffs and has posted a solid 2.24 goals-against average in doing so. But if you discount an 8-2 loss to the Brampton Beast in the opening round, Garteig’s post-season GAA drops to 1.72.
Garteig’s Frriday-night goaltending duel with Florida’s Callum Booth was decided when Estephan came up with his fourth goal pf the playoffs at 13:20 of the third after getting the puck from linemate Josh Kestner, who had created a turnover in the Everblades’ end of the ice
Florida pulled Booth in the game’s final minute, but Pooley sealed the deal with 14 seconds remaining, scoring his sixth of the playoffs into an empty cage.
Dog Bites
The loss Friday was the first in regulation in these playoffs for Booth (6-1-1), who actually lowered his post-season GAA to 1.24, best in the league … Both teams were zero-for-two on the power play … Friday’s three stars: 1. Garteig 2. Estephan 3. Booth … The Growlers’ Zach O’Brien was held off the scoresheet Friday, ending his goal (and points) streak at six games … After tonight’s matchup, the series switched to Mile One Centre for St. John’s, where the next three games are scheduled, beginning with Game 3 Wednesday night …
