By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
This past weekend, the Maine Mariners wrapped up a five-game road trip. After two games against the Trois-Rivières Lions and three against the Greensboro Gargoyles, the Mariners won two of the five road games. Now, the Mariners return home for one game against the Wheeling Nailers before heading out for another road trip. Tonight’s game against the Nailers is one the Mariners and their fans have been waiting for since May.
The Mariners host the Nailers at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine, with puck drop scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET. Despite an intense seven-game second-round series in the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs, tonight is the only meeting of the season between the Mariners and Nailers.
The Mariners began their five-game road trip with a 3-2 overtime win over the Lions back on Oct. 30 at Colisée Videotron, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. After the Lions tied the game with under 20 seconds remaining, forward Linus Hemstrom scored the overtime winner for the Mariners. Unfortunately, the Mariners fell 4-2 the next day, splitting their back-to-back against the Lions. The road trip then shifted to First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, where the Mariners faced the Gargoyles for three consecutive days.
The Mariners dropped the first two games against the Gargoyles, 3-2 and 5-2. This past Saturday, in their final game against the Gargoyles, the Mariners bounced back with a 2-0 win. Forward Antonio Venuto scored both Mariners’ goals in the first period, while goaltender Luke Cavallin recorded a 33-save shutout. Saturday’s win put the Mariners at 4-4 through eight games this season.
A Look at the Opponent
The Nailers enter tonight’s game with a 3-2-2-1 record through eight games. After losing 5-2 to the Trenton Ironhawks this past Friday to extend their losing streak to three games, the Nailers swept their back-to-back against the Worcester Railers over the next two days at DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Defenseman Robby Drazner leads the Nailers with four assists and six points. Forwards Remy Parker, Ryan Pitoscia, and Dante Sheriff each have three goals, leading the Nailers’ roster. Goaltender Nolan Lalonde has played four games and has a 2.94 GAA and a .902 save percentage. In comparison, Kasmir Kaskisuo has a 1.94 GAA and a .938 save percentage in two games, and Philip Svedeback has also played two games, posting a 2.36 GAA and a .902 save percentage.
Waiting for This Day
Tonight marks the first time the Mariners will face the Nailers since being eliminated by them in Game 7 of the second round of the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs back on May 18. The home team won all seven games of the thrilling seven-game series. The Mariners led 3-2 when the series shifted back to WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia, but they lost the next two games by one goal to end the series in seven games. The Mariners have a chance to avenge their playoff series loss to the Nailers tonight at home.
Leave a Reply