Resilient Wheeling Nailers Put Maine Mariners on Brink Early in Series
Riding high from overtime heroics and a physical home-ice sweep, the Nailers head to Portland carrying a dominant 2-0 lead and all the momentum in the North Division.
The Wheeling Nailers are heading on the road to Portland with full control of their second-round series after back-to-back home wins over the Maine Mariners on Friday and Saturday night at WesBanco Arena, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead. Friday’s opener delivered everything expected from playoff hockey that you would expect: momentum swings, physical play, special teams battles, and overtime heroics. Ripped one into the twine 😤 pic.
twitter. com/gJAZXZacW5 — Maine Mariners (@MarinersOfMaine) May 9, 2026 After an early penalty to Wyllum Deveaux for high-sticking, Maine struck first at 7:40 of the opening period when Antonio Venuto finished a setup from Jacob Hudson and Jaxon Bellamy. The intensity escalated throughout the period, highlighted by matching roughing minors to Maine’s Andrew Nielsen and Wheeling’s Matthew Quercia at 13:57.
The Nailers doubled their lead later in the frame as Tristan Thompson scored at 15:26 off assists from Mathieu De St. Phalle and Logan Pietila. A late slashing penalty to Alexander Kuqali gave Maine momentum entering the second.
The Mariners capitalized just 37 seconds into the middle period when Owen Gallatin scored on the power play from Brooklyn Kalmikov and Robert Cronin. Wheeling answered quickly at 3:35 as Blake Bennett restored the lead with Quercia and Pietila picking up assists. Photo Credit: Wheeling Nailers Penalties continued to pile up for Wheeling, with minors to Max Graham for holding and a bench minor served by Tiernan Shoudy for too many men.
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