The Wheeling Nailers are glad they won’t have to see Norfolk Scope Arena again for the rest of the post-season, while the Toledo Walleye enjoyed the comforts of home.

Here’s a look at the two games of first-round action Thursday in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Wheeling Seeing Double

It’s often said lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place.

Tell that to the Wheeling Nailers, who have lost the first two games of the North Division Semifinals in Norfolk by 4-0 scores.

The only comfort for the Nailers is that the series will shift to Wheeling for the remaining five games, but the club needs to generate some offense after leaving Norfolk Scope Arena without a goal through 120 minutes.

Just as in Game 1, the Nailers outshot Norfolk in the first period Thursday but couldn’t light the lamp. The Admirals scored in the first 35 seconds of the game when Colton Young floated in a shot over the left side after it was deflected by Darick Louis-Jean.

The Admirals increased their lead to 2-0 after Ben Zloty slipped a backhander between Nailers netminder Sergei Murashov’s legs.

Norfolk added to the lead on a Denis Smirnov power-play goal from the top of the right circle in the second period. Sean Montgomery added the final tally in the third on a breakaway for the 4-0 win and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Thomas Milic once again outdueled Murashov in net, stopping all 32 shots he faced for his second shutout in as many nights. Murashov saved 25 shots in the loss.

The Nailers have some time to regroup, as they return home for Game 3 next Wednesday.

Walleye Double Up Indy

The Indy Fuel were much more competitive in the opener of their Central division Semifinal series in Toledo against the Walleye.

After back-and-forth action late in the third period, the Walleye prevailed 6-3 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Toledo’s first goal came shorthanded early in the first period when Trenton Bliss scored after creating a turnover.

Brandon Hawkins tallied a power-play goal for a 2-0 lead. The Fuel got on the board at 2:52 of the middle frame before Jalen Smereck got a goal back for the Walleye two minutes later for a 3-1 advantage.

Sam Craggs increased that lead to 4-1 at the 6:51 mark before Bryan Lemos scored at 9:30 to cut Indy’s deficit to 4-2.

Craggs notched his second of the night for a 5-2 Walleye lead at 13:22. Toledo then had a 5-on-3 advantage for 45 seconds but the Fuel managed to kill off both penalties.

The Walleye got their final goal at 1:39 of the final period before Jarrett Lee redirected a Kevin Lombardi shot for the eventual 6-3 final.

Things got heated on several occasions late in the game, but the Walleye take their 1-0 series lead into Game 2 on Friday in Toledo.