By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
When the Maine Mariners fell 4-1 in Game 2 to the Wheeling Nailers on May 9 to fall 0-2 in the 2026 North Division Finals series, not many people would’ve thought the team was capable of having a chance to win three consecutive games at home to have a series lead. Now, the Mariners are looking to make franchise history.
Game 6 between the Mariners and Nailers is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Mariners are aiming to win tonight and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
After losing Game 2 in Wheeling, the Mariners faced immense pressure with the series shifting to Cross Insurance Arena for Game 3 in Portland, Maine. The Mariners needed to defend home ice, and they did just that in the end.
The Mariners won 6-3 in Game 3 this past Monday to force a fifth game in the series. Then, a long night occurred this past Tuesday in Game 4, when the two teams needed double overtime after being tied at one since the first intermission. In the end, Mariners forward Jacob Hudson scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to force the series to go at least six games.
Hudson’s goal in double overtime set up a pivotal Game 5 this past Wednesday, with either team taking a 3-2 series lead. In the end, the Mariners continued their strong play at home, winning 5-3 to take the series lead, and also going 3-0 against the Nailers at home in the series. The win also marked the Mariners’ fourth consecutive win on home ice.
After falling behind 1-0 just 4:51 into the game, the Mariners got two goals in 41 seconds from forwards Ben Allison and Max Andreev to take a 2-1 lead heading into intermission. Andreev then scored the only goal of the second period, and forward Brooklyn Kalmikov scored 4:14 into the third period to give the Mariners a 4-1 lead. After Kalmikov’s goal, the Nailers started to get back into the game.
Nailers forward Brayden Edwards scored with 10:57 remaining in regulation to cut the Mariners’ lead to 4-2. Fifty-four seconds after Edwards’ goal, the Nailers then got a power play with the chance to make it a one-goal game. However, the Mariners killed off the penalty, and Kalmikov scored his second goal of the game 18 seconds after the penalty expired. Nailers forward Matty De St. Phalle scored with 2:04 remaining in regulation to make it a 5-3 game, but it was too little too late for a comeback win.
After playing excellently in the first seven playoff games, the Mariners scored five goals in two of the past three games against Nailers goaltender Taylor Gauthier. Mariners goaltender Luke Cavallin was excellent by winning all three games played in Maine, which included 20 saves in Game 5.
It’s simple tonight for Game 6. If the Mariners win, they will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to face either the Florida Everblades or South Carolina Stingrays from the South Division. If the Nailers win, Game 7 will be played on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET at WesBanco Arena.
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