On Friday night, the Maine Mariners welcomed new division rivals Wheeling Nailers to Cross Insurance Arena to open up the 2024-25 ECHL season on home ice. The Nailers spoiled the Mariners’ party as they came away with a 4-1 win. Special teams are one of the most important aspects of hockey, and that proved to be true as the Nailers scored their first two goals on the powerplay, going 2-for-5 for the game. They kept the Mariners scoreless on the man advantage, as Maine went 0-for-3.
Jaxon Castor picked up the win on the net as he was phenomenal for the Nailers, allowing just one goal on 26 shots he faced. Nolan Maier picks up the loss for Maine, allowing three goals on 23 shots.
Three Stars of the Game
First Star – Jordan Martel (1g, 1a)
Second Star – Castor (25 saves)
Third Star – Evan Vierling (1g)
Recap
It did not take long for these two teams to get acquainted with one another as, just 2:38 into the game, Wheeling’s Matthew Quercia and Maine’s Justin Bean dropped the gloves to set the tone. It would turn out well for Wheeling as just a minute later, Maine’s Jake Willets was called for Slashing, giving Wheeling the first powerplay of the game. It took just 21 seconds for Wheeling to capitalize as Gabe Klassen opened the scoring. Off a scramble in front of the Mariners’ net, Kyle Jackson was able to gain control of the puck. He moved out to the left-wing half wall, being patient for an open man. Atley Calvert was right alongside the net, received a pass, then quickly moved it out front to Klassen, who one-timed it into the back of the net. At 6:52, Castor had to come up with a huge save as a bad turnover in the offensive zone by Sam Houde led to a 2-on-0 breakaway for Maine the other way. Patrick Guay received a breakout pass as he was behind both Wheeling defenders. Carrying it all the way in to the hashmarks, he dished off a pass to Vierling who was robbed by the left pad of Castor.
At 8:58, the Mariners tied the game off a beautiful shot from Vierling. He made his way over the Nailers’ blue line, cut to the middle, and shot the puck from the middle of the ice just above the circles. The shot beat Castor over the shoulder as it went bar down to make it a 1-1 game. Owen Pederson and Xander Lamppa collected the assists on the goal. At 11:03, Maine went on its first powerplay as Cole Cameron was sent off for High-Sticking. Looking to match Wheeling’s powerplay tally, Maine was buzzing around the Nailers’ zone. It was able to get a few shots off that caused a few scares for the Nailers, but nothing would go as they survived the kill.
With 1:47 to go in the first, the Nailers had a great chance to take a late lead as a shot from the point by David Drake beat Maier through a screen but did not beat the post as the puck bounced off it and under Maier for a stoppage. The opening frame ended tied at one. Wheeling lead that shot total 10-8. Both teams had a powerplay chance, with the Nailers going one-for-one on the powerplay and penalty kill.
Early in the second period, Maine ran into penalty trouble again. A bench minor for Too Many Men was assessed to Maine, giving Wheeling its second powerplay of the game. Just like the first powerplay, the Nailers were able to capitalize and keep their 100% on the powerplay through the first 23 minutes of the game. Some great puck movement by the Nailers had the Mariners running around. Houde moved the puck up to the point for Chris Ortiz, and he quickly moved it over to Martel. Pulling off a fake shot, Martel caught Willets out of position, moved to the middle of the ice, and riffled a shot over Maier’s right shoulder.
Maine went back on the penalty kill just a minute after the goal as Turner Ripplinger was sent off for Delay of Game. This time around, Maine did a solid job of limiting the Nailers’ chances and were able to finally kill off a penalty. Twenty-eight seconds after killing off the penalty, the Mariners went on their second powerplay of the game at 6:43 as Cameron was sent to the box for Tripping. Though they had a few good chances, the Mariners were unable to capitalize on their second chance. With 1:59 to go, Martel nearly had his second of the night as his shot leaked behind Maier, but a stellar defensive play by Mason Millman to scoop the puck off the goal line kept the game at 2-1.
Through two periods of play, Wheeling held a 19-16 shot advantage as they went one for two on the powerplay while killing off both of Maine’s powerplay chances for the period.
After a bit of back-and-forth action between the two teams to begin the final frame, the Nailers tacked on another goal to extend their lead to 3-1 at 5:07. Off a broken pass from Matty De St. Phalle, the puck found its way on to the tape of Phip Waugh at the blue line. Skating deeper into the zone, Waugh riffled a shot from the left-wing circle and over Maier’s shoulder for his first professional goal. Martel collected the secondary assist on the goal. Both teams had some good chances to put the puck in the back of the net, but nothing would go until Jackson tacked on a fourth goal for Wheeling at 17:40 with an empty-net goal. That sealed the deal, and Wheeling held on to take game one of the season by a 4-1 final.
Maine held a 10-5 shot advantage in the final period and had a 26-24 shot advantage for the game. Wheeling had the only two powerplay chances in the period, but were not able to capitalize on either.
Both teams will meet again on Oct. 19 as Maine looks to bounce back with a win to end the weekend series. Puck drop is slated for 6 p.m. at Cross Insurance Arena.
