3’s across the board. 3 games in Portland on 3 straight nights. 3 Maine Mariner wins!! Maine gave up the first goal on Wednesday night, then scored the next four en route to a 5-3 victory over the Wheeling Nailers in Game 5 of the North Division Finals at the Cross Insurance Arena. The Mariners are now up 3-2 in the best of seven series and one win away from a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals!
After Ryan McAllister put the Nailers up for the only time on the night at 4:51 of the first period, the Mariners responded with goals 41 seconds apart at 12:51 and 13:32 by Ben Allison and Max Andreev to take the lead for good. Andreev got his second of the night on the powerplay at 5:08 of the second, while Brooklyn Kalmikov made it 4-1 at 4:14 of the third period. After the Nailers scored their second tally of the game on the powerplay, Kalmikov was the recipient of a great pass by Xander Lampaa on a 3 on 1 Maine breakout right after another Wheeling powerplay had expired to make it 5-2 with 7:45 remaining. Matty De St. Phalle scored for the guests late with the game already decided with 2:04 left.
McAllister, De St. Phalle, and Brayden Edwards all had one goal and one assist each in the loss for Wheeling. Taylor Gauthier made 31 saves in net. The Nailers went 1-3 on the powerplay. Andreev and Kalmikov both put up three points with two goals and one assist a piece for Maine. Lampaa and Jacob Hudson chipped in two assists each. The Mariners went 1-6 with their powerplay opportunities, after netting three four man markers on Monday night in Game 3 (1-13 since). Luke Cavallin made 20 stops in between the pipes, including a key save on a Mike Posma breakaway when it was still 3-1 in the second period. Maine now heads back to Wheeling, West Virginia for Game 6 on Saturday night at 7:10 p.m. The Nailers have not lost on home ice yet in the playoffs (4-0). Wheeling would also have home ice for Game 7 on Monday if they can tie the series.
Photo from the Maine Mariners
