Nailers Take Painful Loss in Multiple Ways to Walleye
March 22, 2025 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Toledo Walleye's Cole Gallant and Wheeling Nailers' Isaac Belliveau in action
(Wheeling Nailers)
TOLEDO, OH- Saturday night was an aggravating game for the Wheeling Nailers, as they faced the rival Toledo Walleye at Huntington Center. Toledo scored four unanswered goals to snap a 2-2 tie, including one off an unpenalized hit, as the Walleye prevailed, 6-2 on their home ice. Isaac Belliveau and Matthew Quercia were the Wheeling goal scorers, while Mason Salquist notched an assist in his professional debut.
Both teams lit the lamp in the opening stanza, and the two markers came 58 seconds apart from each other. Wheeling was first on the board at the 6:49 mark. Mason Salquist took his first shift as a pro, and immediately helped to create offense, as he wrapped the puck into the crease. While that attempt didn't go through, Isaac Belliveau's did, as he poked the loose biscuit between Carter Gylander's legs. The Walleye drew even off of a turnover. The Nailers failed to get the puck out of their zone, and Brandon Kruse capitalized by dancing to the left side of the slot, where he roofed a wrist shot into the top-right corner of the cage.
The second period left Wheeling infuriated. Before the madness started, three goals were scored - two by Toledo and one by the Nailers. Mitchell Lewandowski put the home team ahead, when he swatted in a bouncing puck on the left side of the slot, which was set up by Brandon Hawkins. Wheeling answered that goal in a matter of 2:05. Aidan Sutter's right point shot was padded away, but Matthew Quercia cleaned up the garbage and deposited the equalizer. The Walleye regained the lead with 9:51 remaining. Bobby Russell sprawled out to block a pass in his own zone, which led to a transition rush in the other direction. Russell ended up finishing the play, as he buried a drop pass from Lewandowski. A couple of minutes later, things turned sour. Jalen Smereck laid out Sutter with what should have been a penalized hit and possibly a major at the blueline, but no call was made. Seconds later, Trenton Bliss went on a breakaway and scored with his backhand. That set Wheeling off, and the game went off the rails from there.
Toledo tacked on two power play goals in the third period for a 6-2 final score, as Cole Gallant slammed in a one-timer from the left side of the crease, and Colby Ambrosio lofted in a wrist shot from straight away.
Carter Gylander picked up the win for the Walleye, as he made 21 saves on 23 shots. Jaxon Castor allowed six goals on 30 shots in the loss for the Nailers.
The Nailers will wrap up their weekend on the road with a 4:00 contest against Indy on Sunday. Wheeling will then play its final six regular season home games. The first of those is a Frosty Friday on March 28th against Cincinnati. Two highlight promotions during the homestand will be Black & Gold Night Starring former Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Shazier on Saturday, March 29th, and the third annual Wizards & Wands Game on Saturday April 5th. Individual tickets for 2024-25 home games are available by calling (304) 234-GOAL or visiting wheelingnailers.com. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.
-Nailers-
Images from this story
 Toledo Walleye's Cole Gallant and Wheeling Nailers' Isaac Belliveau in action |
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 22, 2025
- Steelheads Complete Series Sweep with 5-2 Win Over Americans - Idaho Steelheads
- Cassaro Scores, Pretzel City Royals Drop Saturday Face-off With Admirals, 4-1 - Reading Royals
- Bates' Late Goal Pushes Thunder Past Rush - Wichita Thunder
- 'Clones Score Six Unanswered, Defeat K-Wings 6-1 on Saturday Night - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Knight Monsters Sweep the Oilers in Tulsa - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Royals Host Pups & Admirals on Pucks 'N Paws + Dog Toy Toss 3 PM Puck Drop - Reading Royals
- Griffin Ness Scores First Goal for Utah in Loss at Kansas City - Utah Grizzlies
- Walleye Take Season Series In Dominant Win Against The Nailers - Toledo Walleye
- Stingrays Win Tenth Straight Game Against Icemen - South Carolina Stingrays
- Railers Declaw Lions in Show-Stopping Comeback Victory - Worcester Railers HC
- Nailers Take Painful Loss in Multiple Ways to Walleye - Wheeling Nailers
- Heartlanders Gutty In 3-1 Win Over Komets - Iowa Heartlanders
- K-Wings Fall to Cyclones on Road Saturday - Kalamazoo Wings
- Fuel Set New Sellout Record In Win Over Bloomington - Indy Fuel
- Mavericks Complete Weekend Sweep with 4-1 Win Over Grizzlies on Affiliation Night - Kansas City Mavericks
- Bison Win Streak Snapped in Indy - Bloomington Bison
- Lions Fall 5-4 in Overtime - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Komets Fall to Iowa 3-1 - Fort Wayne Komets
- Admirals Bounce Back with Victory over Reading - Norfolk Admirals
- Thunder Power Play Shines in 4-3 Win over Mariners - Adirondack Thunder
- Thunder Use Power Play to Rally over Mariners - Maine Mariners
- ECHL Transactions - March 22 - ECHL
- Kansas City Mavericks Sign Goaltender Noah West to Standard Player Contract - Kansas City Mavericks
- Kansas City Mavericks Sign Forward Dalton Duhart - Kansas City Mavericks
- Jon Gillies Signs PTO with Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League - Orlando Solar Bears
- Admirals Add Forward Matt Crasa on ATO - Norfolk Admirals
- Trevor Janicke Recalled by Calgary Wranglers - Rapid City Rush
- Game Day: Avoiding the Sweep - Allen Americans
- Rush Game Notes: March 22, 2025 vs. Wichita Thunder - Rapid City Rush
- Wichita Continues Road Trip Tonight at Rapid City - Wichita Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
