Game Preview | Round One VS Brampton Beast

2019 KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS – ROUND 1

Newfoundland Growlers (1st North) vs. Brampton Beast (4th North)

GAME 1: Friday, April 12th (7:30 PM NST) – Mile One Centre

GAME 2: Saturday, April 13th (7:30 PM NST) – Mile One Centre

WATCH: Rogers TV, ECHL TV              LISTEN: mixlr.com/nlgrowlers

The Newfoundland Growlers begin their quest for the Kelly Cup this weekend in an All-Canadian series with a familiar foe, the Brampton Beast, ECHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. The two clubs battled it out 13 times in the regular season, with the Growlers winning the season series 8-5.

The Growlers enter the series on a three-game losing skid, while the Beast have lost two of their last three games.

LAST GAME

The Newfoundland Growlers clawed their way back to score three unanswered goals after being down 3-0 after the first period, but Wade Murphy netted the shootout winner for the Maine Mariners as they took a 4-3 win to close out the ECHL regular season Sunday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena. Scott Pooley, Zach O’Brien and Evan Neugold scored for the Growlers, who went 0-for-2 in the shootout. Michael Garteig made 21 saves. 

QUICK HITS

Newfoundland

• Scott Pooley netted his 31st of the season against the Mariners to lead the Growlers in goals for their Inaugural Season
• John Snowden is making his first appearance in the Kelly Cup playoffs as a head coach after a 16-10-6 record behind the bench since taking over for Ryane Clowe
• Sam Jardine won the Kelly Cup in 2017 with the Colorado Eagles, marking him as the only Growler to have won the ECHL title

Brampton

• The Beast have made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, sporting an overall record of 6-6
• Matt Petgrave had 40 points in 50 games this season on the blue line for Brampton, and led the club in plus/minus with a +25 rating
• David Vallorani led the Beast in points against the Growlers during the regular season with 16 in 13 games

PREVIOUS MATCHUP

March 2nd – 7-5 Brampton Beast

The Newfoundland Growlers came out of the gates flying with a 3-0 lead early into the second period, but the Brampton Beast rallied back for a gutsy 7-5 win at Mile One Centre. Both Zach O’Brien and Scott Pooley had a pair of goals and an assist for the Growlers. Marcus Power had the other Growlers tally. Nathan Todd led the way for the Beast netting a hat trick. Eamon McAdam and Etienne Marcoux made 22 saves in their respective creases.