NEW YORK -- The Pittsburgh Penguins weren't the only team in the organization to earn a massive overtime playoff win on Tuesday.
The Nailers eliminated the Fort Wayne Komets on the road with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 7 of the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs.
Rookie Matthew Quercia, an ECHL-contracted forward who joined the Nailers following the conclusion of his senior year at Michigan Tech, was the overtime hero:
The other goals in the game came from Penguins forward prospect Justin Almeida and forward Sean Josling, in his second professional season with the team. Second-year pro Louis-Philip Guindon earned the win in net with 38 saves on 40 shots.
Rookie forward Cam Hausinger led the Nailers in scoring in the series with seven goals and an assist in seven games. Veteran forward Patrick Watling, who earned a three-game stint in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier in the year, was next with a goal and five assists in seven games. Penguins defense prospect Josh Maniscalco led Wheeling's blueliners with two goals and three assists in seven games.
Guindon started in all seven games, posting a 2.43 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and one shutout.
The Nailers will face the No. 1 team in the Central Division in the Toledo Walleye in the second round.
This is the Nailers' first time in the postseason since the 2015-16 season, the year they lost in the Kelly Cup Final to the Allen Americans. Forward Derek Army was in his second professional season with the team that year, and went on to eventually be named Wheeling's captain. Now in his second year as a coach in Wheeling and first full season as head coach, he's led the Nailers back to the postseason.
