The Wheeling Nailers narrowly lost a thrilling 2-1 shootout against the Maine Mariners on Sunday afternoon at WesBanco Arena. Despite Louie Roehl tying the game in the third period and Taylor Gauthier making 28 saves, the Mariners capitalized on two of their three shootout attempts to secure the win. The match saw both teams miss opportunities during regulation and overtime, leading to an intense penalty shootout that ultimately decided the outcome.

Neither team managed to score in the first period, with Maine holding a slight 10-8 shot advantage. The deadlock was broken midway through the second period when Brooklyn Kalmikov and Wyllum Deveaux, former members of the Nailers, combined for the opening goal. Kalmikov's pass deflected off a Wheeling player's skate, setting up Deveaux's successful shot. The Nailers responded early in the third period with Roehl’s equalizer, sparking hopes of a comeback. However, despite power play opportunities late in regulation and overtime, neither side could break the tie, leading to the shootout.

In the shootout, the Mariners took control from the start. Kalmikov and Sebastian Vidmar scored decisive goals, while Brad Arvanitis made crucial saves for Maine. For the Nailers, Logan Pietila and David Jankowski were unable to convert their attempts. Taylor Gauthier, who had an impressive performance throughout the game, only managed one successful save in the shootout.

The Nailers’ next challenge will be a series of road games against the Adirondack Thunder in Glens Falls, New York, scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This upcoming weekend will test the team's resilience after a tough home loss.