The Maine Mariners scored two goals in the final 1:09, but couldn’t complete the comeback and were eliminated from the ECHL playoffs with a 4-3 loss to the Wheeling Nailers in Game 7 of the North Division finals Monday night in Wheeling, West Virginia.
The home team won each game in the series. Maine led the series 3-2 after winning Games 3, 4 and 5 in Portland, but lost the final two, including Game 6 in overtime, 2-1.
Wheeling advanced to face the Florida Everblades in the Eastern Conference finals.
Maine won a playoff series for the first time this year, beating Adirondack 4-3 in the first round.
Wheeling took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Matthew Quercia and Tanner Andrews. The Mariners pulled within one when Owen Gallatin scored in the second period.
Matty De St. Phalle scored to make it 3-1 and Zach Urdahl made it a three-goal game with 1:31 left. Wyllum Deveaux answered for Maine 22 seconds later and Robert Cronin scored with 27 seconds left for Maine, but Wheeling was able to hang on and advance.
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