By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The Maine Mariners defended home ice against the Wheeling Nailers in Game 3 of the 2026 North Division Finals series this past Monday to force a fifth game to be needed tonight. The Mariners are now home for the final time in this series against the Nailers, and it’s an important game after a thrilling game last night.
The Mariners host the Nailers at Cross Insurance Arena for Game 5, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The winner of tonight’s game will take a 3-2 series lead.
Game 3 saw the Mariners win 6-3, but Game 4 last night was anything but a high-scoring affair. The Mariners won 2-1 in double overtime to tie the series at two games apiece. It was a long night where goaltending would be the difference-maker.
In Game 3, the Mariners scored three goals in the first period against Nailers goaltender Taylor Gauthier, and he was eventually pulled in the second period after giving up five goals. Forward Max Andreev got the scoring going early in Game 4, when he scored 4:56 into the game to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Thoughts of a potential high-scoring game appeared to be on the Mariners’ minds, then Gauthier locked in.
Across the other side of the rink, Mariners goaltender Luke Cavallin was also locked in after allowing Nailers forward Brayden Edwards, who scored a power play goal with 2:59 remaining in the first period, to tie the game at one. After the first period, both goaltenders made pivotal saves to keep the game tied through regulation, and overtime was needed. Gauthier helped the Nailers kill off four Mariner power plays combined from the third period and overtime. Gauthier’s biggest save of the game happened on a breakaway in overtime against Andreev. After a scoreless first overtime, a second overtime awaited both teams.
At 5:57 of double overtime, Mariners forward Robert Cronin was called for a tripping penalty, giving the Nailers a power play. It was a golden chance for the Nailers to win the game after the team killed off all seven of the Mariners’ power play opportunities throughout the game. However, the Nailers failed to score, and nine seconds after Cronin’s penalty ended, forward Jacob Hudson scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to give the Mariners the 2-1 win.
Cavallin made 35 saves in Game 4, including 22 saves combined in the first and second periods. While the Mariners outshot the Nailers by eight after regulation, Cavallin made five combined saves in the two overtime periods to keep the game tied. Both Andreev and Hudson scored a goal and recorded an assist. Despite the win, going 0/7 on the power play after going 4/6 in Game 3 was a big letdown and shows the Mariners need improvement.
The winner of Game 5 will have a chance to clinch the series when it returns to WesBanco Arena for Game 6 in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Mariners have used their home-ice advantage when they needed it most, tying the series. Now, the Mariners need another win at home to be in a position to eliminate the Nailers.
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