×

Wheeling Nailers hoping to clinch semifinal series

WHEELING — After losing Game 1 of the ECHL Kelly Cup Central Division playoff semifinals in Indianapolis, Wheeling has reeled off three straight victories — the last two on home ice inside WesBanco Arena — and can clinch the best-of-7 series tonight at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. The puck drops at 7:10.

The game was originally scheduled for the downtown Wheeling venue, but was forced to move because of the Monster Trucks invading the facility on Friday and Saturday.

Special teams was the key for the third-seeded Nailers in their 3-0 shutout in Game 4 on Tuesday night. They killed off five power-play chances by the second-seeded Indy Fuel and scored a pair of power-play goals — both by Jordan Martel.

Rookie goaltender Jaxon Castor continued to stand tall between the pipes. In earning his first professional playoff shutout, he stopped all 21 shots he faced.

David Jankowski scored the third goal Tuesday night — an empty-netter in the waning seconds.

Should the Fuel win Saturday, Game 6 would be Monday inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum at 7 p.m. If a Game 7 is needed, it would be played Tuesday, also in Indiana.

The Fuel will be a man short tonight following the fracas after the final buzzer of game 4.

The ECHL Department of Player Safety announced that Indy’s Matthew Cairns has been suspended for one game as a result of his actions.

Cairns is suspended under Rule #46.22 as the result of being assessed a game misconduct for being the aggressor in the final five minutes of regulation.

Cairns will miss tonight’s game.

Wheeling won Game 2 in Indiana 7-1 and used Justin Addamo’s goal 30 seconds into overtime in Game 3 to go up 2-1.

Awaiting the winner is the top-seeded Toledo which had 105 points in the regular season, second only to the Kansas City Mavericks’ 114. The Storm eliminated No. 4 Fort Wayne Friday night, 4-2, inside the Wings Event Center to complete their series sweep. Toledo won Game 1 (3-2) in overtime; Game 2 (5-2) and Game 3 (6-2).

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today