The Maine Nordiques took on the Rochester jr Americans this weekend to kick off their 2024 bid for the Robertson cup. The Semi-finals are a best of 5 series with the format of the higher seeded team hosting the first two games and an if needed game 5 and the lower seed hosting games two and three.
Friday:
Former Nordiques forward Aidan Coupe along with billet brother Vinnie Lupardo Drops the puck on the Nordiques Playoffs
The Series got off to a back and forth start with the Nordiques prevailing with some momentum and an opening goal off the stick of Jake Bernadet as he broke free on a breakaway to open the scoring in the series. The Nordiques would outshoot the Americans 11-4 in the opening frame.
Jake Bernadet opens the scoring in game 1
The second period got off to a hot start from the Nords as Tomek Haula charged towards the net, created a rebound chance for Nick Ramm and on a third effort it was Ryan Panico who made it 2-0 Nordiques.
Ryan Panico puts home a third effort
The Third period started with the first penalties of the contest which lead to 4 on 4 play and no scoring. The Nordiques would get some momentum on a power play and as the power play was expiring Nils Forselius made a great move to the backhand to freeze the Rochester goalie and make it 3-0. JP Steele would then fire a shot on net that went off of a Rochester defenseman and into the back of the Net to make it 4-0. The Americans would then respond with 2 quick goals and a late period push which had the Nordiques being outshot 13-4 before time would expire and the Nordiques would take game 1.
Nords take game 1
Saturday:
The Nordiques began the game under sieged from the Rochester Americans attack but were able to flip the script when Nils Forselius made a great pass from behind the net up to David Helledy who found Zion Green who put home the games first goal to make it 1-0 Nordiques. The Nordiques weren’t done there however as Nick Ramm would put a rebound past the Amerks netminder to make it 2-0 after the first.
Nick Ramm Celebrates after cashing in on a rebound in front
The Second period would see four on four action and it would be Alex Park to be the one who found the back of the net to give his team a three goal lead.
Alex Park Celebrates his first career NAHL playoff goal
In the third period the Americans were trying to mount the comeback and it was the Americans scoring back to back to open the period to pull them within one. The Nordiques were helped out by the goaltending from Carter Richardson who was phenomenal all weekend stopping 29/31 shots in game 1 and 45/47 shots in game 2. The Americans pulled their goalie and with the empty net, Carter Richardson gave the puck to David Helledy who flung a shot towards the empty net where Shane Kozlina was standing in the offensive zone to seal the deal. The Americans would pull their goalie again but an offensive zone faceoff for the Americans would be won back and go into their own net for a 5-2 Nordiques victory and with it, a 2-0 Series lead heading back to Rochester for games 3 and 4 on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th.
Carter Richardson and Nick Ramm Celebrate their win