Three different Wheeling skaters scored and Taylor Gauthier earned his sixth career shutout for the club's 10th consecutive win.
When a team goes on a long winning streak, a lot has to go right.
The Wheeling Nailers have had their share of timely scoring, great defense, stellar goaltending and success on special teams during a winning streak that is now at 10 games.
One thing the club had not accomplished the first quarter of the 2024-25 season was recording a shutout. Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati, the Nailers checked that off their list as they blanked the struggling Cyclones 3-0 at Heritage Bank Center.
Matty De St. Phalle, Jagger Joshua and Justin Lee each tallied a goal in the victory, which moved the Nailers’ record to 14-3-1. Their point streak is now at 13 games (12-0-1).
Wheeling grabbed momentum at the 10:16 mark of the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Lee broke his stick after taking a shot from the right point, but it was redirected into the corner. Kyle Jackson jumped on the change and set up De St. Phalle in the low slot. De St. Phalle put a shot into the left side of the cage for the score.
During a 4-on-4 stretch late in the period, Chris Ortiz fed Joshua along the right side of the goal line after winning a battle along the right wall. After getting to the crease, Joshua used his long reach to get the puck past Cyclones goalie Vyacheslav Peksa for a 2-0 lead.
Joshua has had two goals in two games since being reassigned to Wheeling from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League earlier in the week. He potted an empty-netter Friday in a 4-2 home win over the Kalamazoo Wings.
Defense and goaltending took center stage, with both teams combining for just 22 shots over the final two periods.
At 4:39 of the third period, David Drake set up Lee, who rifled a one-timer into the right side of the net, sealing the 3-0 shutout and 10th consecutive win for the Nailers.
Taylor Gauthier was spectacular in net for Wheeling, earning his sixth career ECHL shutout with the club by stopping all 17 shots.
Cincinnati falls to 3-12-3. Peksa made 18 saves of the 21 shots he faced to take the loss.
It was a big win for Nailers head coach Derek Army personally, as he tied Doug Sauter for second place with his 124th win behind the bench.
Wheeling goes right back to work Sunday afternoon at home against the Reading Royals. Home ice has been kind to the Nailers, as they sport an 8-0-1 mark at home.
It will be the first-ever Sensory Day Game at WesBanco Arena. The goal horn will not be utilized, all music will be lowered, there will be no flashing lights, and fans will be treated to a quiet room.
Puck drop is set for 4:10 Pm ET.