The Wheeling Nailers opened up their home schedule for their 30th season with a tough loss. The Nailers were 2-2 coming into Saturday before taking on a familiar foe in the Fort Wayne Komets. The Nailers and Komets met an astonishing 20 times last season. The home squad dropped the Saturday’s game against the Komets 5-2.

“It’s a great atmosphere and we want to come out and get a win here tonight,” said Nailers forward Patrick Watling before Saturday’s home opener.

On Saturday, the Nailers took on the defending Kelly Cup Champions in the Fort Wayne Komets. Both teams have already played each other this season with the Komets winning on home ice.

The Komets were able to strike first to silence the home crowd. Jameson Milam was able to slap home a power-play goal to make it 1-0 Fort Wayne. The assists went to Shawn Boudrias and Stephen Harper. That would be the score at the end of the first period.

The Nailers were able to even things up 1-1 with a power-play goal of their own. The captain Dylan MacPherson scores his first goal as a Nailer, and it was assisted by Shaw Boomhower.

The home squad wasn’t done there as Shaw Boomhower tips in the Josh Maniscalco shot to give the Nailers the lead 2-1. Felix Paré gets his first pro point as the secondary assist.

The Komets were able to tie things up at 2-2 with a Harper goal and an assist to Boudrias to round out the scoring in the second period.

Fort Wayne would then explode for three goals in the third period from former Nailer Blake Siebenaler, Matt Alvaro and an empty netter for Stephen Harper again.

The Nailers outshot the Komets 48 to 25 but were stonewalled by good goaltending. The Komets win 5-2. Samuel Harvey picks up the win for the Komets in his first start of the season, while Tommy Nappier takes the loss and drops his record to 2-2. The Komets improve to 3-1, while the Nailers fall to 2-3 on the young season.

“The atmosphere was great, and I had a really good time despite the loss,” said Nailer’s fan Jason Cefus.

“The Nailers are doing some really cool things inside of the arena now,” said Nailer’s fan Connor Michaels. “Nailers Pregame Live is great and I can’t wait to come back to another game.”

For more information on the Wheeling Nailers go www.wheelingnailers.com.