KEELEY: WALLIN, LACOUVEE LEAD THE WAY IN SUNDAY WIN OVER WHEELING

Wallin scores a pair, LaCouvee stops 33 of 34 in a much-needed win

BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners

PORTLAND, ME – February 10, 2019 – After back-to-back blowout losses on their home ice, the Maine Mariners were in desperate need for a victory. With an all-around effort, they delivered with a 4-1 win over the Riley Armstrong’s former team, the Wheeling Nailers on Sunday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Arena. Terrence Wallin led the offense with a pair of goals when Connor LaCouvee rebounded from two poor performances with 33 saves on 34 shots.

Neither team scored in the first, but the Mariners put 16 shots on Wheeling’s Jordan Ruby and allowed only seven against LaCouvee. Early in the second, the Mariners were awarded a 5-on-3 when Troy Josephs was called for slashing in the first minute while the Mariners worked on the power play. Armstrong called timeout and Wallin touched home a puck that trickled into the goal crease to give Maine a 1-0 lead. Drew Melanson and Michael McNicholas assisted. At 5:14, Greg Chase doubled the Maine lead when he flew down the right wing and backhanded a shot past Ruby – Chase’s fourth goal in the last five games. Brycen Martin and Johnny McInnis got the helpers and Maine took a 2-0 lead into the locker room with the help of some timely late saves by LaCouvee.

In the third, Wheeling used its power play to break through at 11:11 when Michael Phillips one-timed a Troy Josephs pass from the below the goal line past LaCouvee and make it 2-1. Wallin added insurance at 17:10 when he drove down the right wing and forced a puck off Ruby and in. Twenty-nine seconds later, Melanson hit an empty netter to seal the win, taking a pass from Morgan Adams-Moisan, who was making his return to the lineup following a three-game suspension.

LaCouvee’s win was his fifth, while Ruby fell to 5-3-1-1, making 30 stops. The Mariners gained ground on everyone in the division other than first place Newfoundland.

The Mariners homestand wraps up on Wednesday night when they return to divisional play and host the Worcester Railers at 7:00 PM. General admission tickets can be purchased at MarinersofMaine.com or by visiting or calling the Trusted Choice Box Office: 207-775-3458.