Photo by Joe Lovell The Wheeling Nailers celebrate their Game 7 win over the Maine Mariners on Monday inside WesBanco Arena.

WHEELING – The Wheeling Nailers are headed to Florida. No, the team is not re-locating to the Sunshine State, nor are the players headed to the beach for vacation.

By virtue of their white-knuckle, 4-3, decision over Maine before a raucous crowd of 3,210 Monday night in Game 7 inside WesBanco Arena, the Nailers are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 10 years.

“It feels good. It’s where we should be. We were the (North) division winner,” first-year Wheeling head coach Ryan Papaioannou. “We’ll probably be one of four division winners in the (conference) finals. It’s a special night, but for me, it was expected.”

Wheeling led 2-0 after one period on goals by team captain Matthew Quercia and Tanner Andrew. Andrew and Emil Pieniniemi logged assists on the first net-finder, while Pieniniemi and Brent Johnson helped on Andrew’s goal.

“This is special for myself and guys like (Taylor) Gauthier who have been around here for five years,” Quercia said. It means a lot. I think you can see that in our emotions on the ice. Shout out to this crowd on a Monday night to bring the energy like they did.”

The Mariners cut the deficit in half just before the midway point of the second period on a goal by Owen Gallatin. Assisting was Robert Cronin.

However, Matty De St. Phalle gave Wheeling a 3-1 advantage 16:53 into the third period and Zach Urdahl’s empty-net goal at 18:29 bumped the count to 4-1 as the electric crowd was pumped.

However, Maine scored a pair of goals at 18:51 and 19:33 to make things interesting.

“We were just making sure everyone wants to come back and watch some exciting hockey,” Papaioannou added.

When asked what he knew about Florida, Papaioannou quickly replied, “Not much. I think they come into the series with 16 (playoff) series wins. So, they are kind of a juggernaut, but there’s no reason we can’t go down there and beat them.”

Wheeling’s penalty kill was on the brink of spectacular. The Nailers killed off five Maine power plays, including three-plus in the second period.

“Contributions up-and-down the lineup,” Papaioannou continued. “There are a lot of guys that are proud to play in Wheeling. We’re young and we’re almost dumb, but we’re too young to really know what’s going on right now. We’re just playing hockey and having fun.

“Tanner Andrew, every time he goes out of the lineup, he returns and does some good things,” Papaioannou added. “He’s proven us wrong that he should be in the lineup every time.

“The fan support you saw tonight was outstanding. For a Monday night to have a crowd like that was very impressive,” Papaioannou noted.

LOOSE PUCKS

– Andrew was the No. 1 star, with Pieniniemi No. 2 and Quercia No. 3.

– The win gives Wheeling a 5-2 record all-time in game 7s.

– The trip to the Eastern Conference Finals is the first in 10 seasons.

– The Nailers will fly to Estero, Fla. on Wednesday. Game 1 and Game 2 are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with Games 3, 4, and 5, if necessary, set for WesBanco Arena on May 27, May 29 and May 30.