on February 16, 2013 @ 11:45pm 

The Welland Whalers’ playoff hopes are very much alive after defeating the Whitby Dunlops 7-6 Saturday night in Welland.

With the win, the Whalers will finish the regular season in fifth place in the five team Allan Cup Hockey League, three points behind the fourth place Orillia Tundras although the Tundras have one regular season game remaining which they will play on Sunday.

However in the ACH, if five points or less separate the fourth and fifth place teams, a Wild Card Series will be held for the final playoff spot. The winner of the series will be awarded fourth place and will proceed to the playoffs while the loser of the series will be eliminated from post season action.

Even if the Tundras win their final regular season game on Sunday, the difference between the fourth place Tundras and fifth place Whalers will be five points, forcing a two game Wild Card Series. The winner of the series will be determined by the total goals scored over the two games.

On Saturday night in Welland, the Whalers led 3-2 after the first period and 5-4 heading into the third period against the Dunlops.

In the third period, Joe Forte scored just 1:12 into the period to give the Whalers a 6-4 lead. However, goals by Nat Brooks and Peter MacKellar erased the Whalers' two goal lead and the teams were tied at 6-6 with just over eleven minutes remaining in regulation time.

With just over three minutes remaining in the period, Whalers leading scorer Dan Marwick stepped up his game and scored an unassisted goal to give the Whalers the win.

Andrew Letwin, John Williamson, Dan Minor, John Williamson and Tanner McGowan also scored for the Whalers.

Rick Miller got the win in net for the Whalers stopping 40 of 46 shots while Dayne Davies stopped 23 of 30 shots for the Dunlops.

The Wild Card Series begins on Monday with a Family Day matinee at the Welland Arena. Game time is 2:30 pm.

Game two of the series will take place in Orillia the next day with a 8:30 pm start time.

SCORING SUMMARY

Period 1
Whitby - Darren Doherty (Peter MacKellar, Martin Kearns) 5:48
Welland - Andrew Letwin (Dan Minor, Tanner McGowan) 6:44
Welland - John Williamson (power play) (Tanner McGowan, Dan Minor) 9:24
Whitby - Kyle Musselman (short handed) (unassisted) 12:19
Welland - Dan Minor (Mike Cordi, John Williamson) 18:23

Period 2
Whitby - Peter MacKellar (Shane Terry, Darren Doherty) 5:53
Whitby - Darren Doherty (Peter MacKellar, Shane Terry) 8:20
Welland - John Williamson (unassisted) 14:20
Welland - Tanner McGowan (Dan Minor) 14:42

Period 3
Welland - Joe Forte (Ryan Mannal, Jeff Zatorski) 1:12
Whitby - Nat Brooks (Dylan O Neil) 1:25
Whitby - Peter MacKellar (Darren Doherty, Jason McAuley) 8:36
Welland - Dan Marwick (unassisted) 16:17