PORTLAND, Maine — Multiple-goal leads were not safe at Cross Insurance Arena on Sunday afternoon, as the Wheeling Nailers and Maine Mariners needed extra time to determine a winner.

Both teams erased two-goal deficits, leading to a 4-4 deadlock after regulation. With less than one minute to go in overtime, Logan Pietila stepped up as the hero for the Nailers, as he poked in the rebound of Zach Gallant’s initial shot for a 5-4 triumph.

Tommy Budnick and Max Graham both scored their first pro goals for Wheeling.

Twenty-three seconds into the third period, the Nailers took the lead for the first time. Renwick blocked a shot in the defensive zone, then created a 2-on-1 in the other direction. The rookie forward attempted to slide a pass across the slot, but the puck kicked off of a Mariners defender and ended up in the net. 2:27 later, Wheeling struck again. Gallant navigated his way into the slot and zipped a wrist shot into the bottom-left corner of the twine. Maine battled back with two goals during the final minutes to even the score and force overtime. Kalmikov struck for his second of the night, when he dangled through the slot and ripped a wrist shot into the right side of the net. Then, with 2:53 to go, Ty Cheveldayoff roofed the equalizer into the top-right corner.

Overtime saw nine combined shots on goal, but nearly reached its entirety without a goal being scored. However, with just over 58 seconds left, the Nailers secured their victory. Gallant smoked a shot on goal from the left circle that goaltender Brad Arvanitis stopped. However, Arvanitis lost the handle of the puck, and Logan Pietila stashed in the loose change, giving Wheeling the 5-4 win.

Jaxon Castor was the victorious netminder for the Nailers, with 24 saves on 28 shots in his season debut. Brad Arvanitis stopped 26 of the 31 shots he faced for the Mariners.

The Nailers will play their home opener on at 7:10 p.m. Saturday against the Norfolk Admirals.

MARINERS 7, NAILERS 3 (SATURDAY)

The Nailers took one on the chin for the first time in the 2025-26 season Saturday night, as the Maine Mariners put seven on the board at Cross Insurance Arena. Luke Cavallin picked up the win for the Mariners with 24 saves on 27 shots. Maxim Pavlenko suffered the loss for the Nailers.

Aidan Sutter netted his first pro goal for the Nailers