By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
After falling behind 0-2 in the series to the Wheeling Nailers in the 2026 North Division Finals, the Maine Mariners defended their home ice well by winning the next three games to take a 3-2 series lead. Heading into Saturday night, the Mariners had a chance to make franchise history in Wheeling, West Virginia. A win in Game 6 would advance the Mariners to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, but that win wouldn’t happen.
The Nailers defeated the Mariners 2-1 in overtime at WesBanco Arena in Game 6. With the loss, the Mariners and Nailers will have a Game 7 to determine the series winner. The home team has won every game of the series. When the Nailers needed to use home ice to their advantage, as the Mariners did the past three games, they did just that.
First Period
Both the Mariners and Nailers had one power play opportunity in the first period, but failed to score. Mariners goaltender Luke Cavallin and Nailers goaltender Taylor Gauthier were both sharp in the period, having the game scoreless heading into the first intermission. Cavallin made 12 saves in the period, while Gauthier made six saves.
Second Period
The Nailers’ offensive pressure from the first period carried over into the second against Cavallin. Looking to break the ice, the Nailers did just that when forward Nolan Renwick scored 5:31 into the period for a 1-0 lead. Just 1:27 later, the Mariners had their second power play opportunity of the game when Renwick was called for a high-sticking penalty. Despite a great chance for a quick response, the Nailers failed to score on the power play.
Then, the Nailers got their second power play opportunity when Mariners forward Shawn Element was called for an interference penalty, 1:46 after Renwick’s penalty ended. However, the Mariners got the important kill to keep it a one-goal game. Renwick’s goal would be the only goal of the period, as the Nailers led 1-0 heading into the second intermission. The Mariners and Nailers each had nine shots on goal in the period.
Third Period
Just 3:14 into the third period, the Mariners had a chance to tie the game when Nailers defenseman Aidan Sutter was called for a high-sticking penalty. However, the Mariners failed to score on the power play again with a chance to tie the game. Momentum seemed to have left the Mariners, then an unexpected hero delivered the biggest moment of his ECHL career.
With 11:45 remaining in regulation, defenseman Michael Underwood scored his first career ECHL goal to tie the game at one for the Mariners. Including both the regular season and playoffs, Underwood went 118 career ECHL games without scoring a goal until his game-tying goal.
Underwood’s goal was enough for the Mariners to force overtime. The Nailers outshot the Mariners 36-20 through regulation. Cavallin made 15 saves in the third period.
Overtime
Game 6 marked the third time that overtime was needed to determine a winner in the series, with the home team winning in the previous two meetings. The Nailers won Game 1 thanks to forward Ryan McAllister’s game-winning goal, and the Mariners won Game 4 in double overtime thanks to forward Jacob Hudson’s game-winning goal. It was simple for Game 6’s overtime. If the Mariners scored, they would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Nailers scored, they would force a Game 7.
Early into overtime, Mariners forward Ben Allison had a golden chance to win the series on a breakaway, but Gauthier denied him, causing the game to go on. The Mariners continued to have chances against Gauthier, but were unable to score. With 4:40 remaining in overtime, Mariners forward Zach Jordan was called for a slashing penalty, giving the Nailers a perfect chance to win the game and keep the series alive, and they did just that.
With three minutes remaining in overtime, Nailers forward Emil Pieniniemi scored on the power play to win the game and force a seventh game. Jordan’s penalty hurt the Mariners at a crucial time. In defeat, Cavallin was outstanding, making 46 saves. However, the Nailers outshot the Mariners 48-32 in the game. The Mariners and Nailers each had 12 shots on goal in overtime.
It’s now winner-take-all in the next meeting between the Mariners and Nailers. Game 7 of the series will be played on Monday at WesBanco Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. The winner will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to face either the Florida Everblades or South Carolina Stingrays. The Everblades currently lead 3-1 in the South Division Finals series over the Stingrays.
Leave a Reply