Ryan McAllister scored 3:10 into overtime Friday night to give the Wheeling Nailers a 4-3 win over the Maine Mariners in Game 1 of the ECHL North Division finals in Wheeling, West Virginia.
The Nailers never led until the end, as they erased three one-goal deficits. McAllister’s goal came moments after Wheeling finished killing off a slashing penalty on Nolan Renwick.
Antonio Venuto put the Mainers in front 7:40 into the first period, but Tristan Thompson tied it at 15:26.
Maine then got a power-play goal from Owen Gallatin 37 seconds into the second period, but the lead lasted only three minutes before Blake Bennett answered for Wheeling. Then, after Brooklyn Kalmikov made it 3-2 at 15:14 of the second, the Railers needed just 47 seconds to pull even again, on a goal by Mike Posma.
Mariners goalie Brad Arvanitis finished with 38 saves. Wheeling’s Taylor Gauthier stopped 27 shots.
Game 2 is Saturday night in West Virginia. Games 3, 4 and 5 are scheduled for Monday through Wednesday at Portland’s Cross Insurance Arena.
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