Cyclones blow past Wheeling 7-1

WHEELING, WV – Four different players registered three point nights for the Cyclones in the team’s dominant post-Christmas win over the Nailers, taking Wheeling down 7-1 inside WesBanco Arena Sunday night.

The Cyclones move to 15-11-0-0 on the season, and are four games above .500 for the second time this season. The team sits thirdin the Central Division standings, jumping a point ahead of the Nailers who sit 14-9-1-0 on the 2021-22 ECHL season.

Wheeling got the scoring started when Bobby Hampton intercepted a puck in the attacking end, then found Brandon Saigeon in-between the circles for a shot that beat Mat Robson 6:31 into the first.

Lukas Craggs found the equalizer late in the first. The Cyclones forward took a left point shot that was blocked, but found his rebound and raced into the left circle to shoot his next chance by Wheeling’s Tommy Nappier, tying the game at one a piece.

Louie Caporusso would put the Cyclones up 4:33 into the second period with a net-front opportunity to shovel it by Nappier to make it 2-1. That was the first of three Cyclones goals in the period and first within a 6:27 span. After Caporusso’s goal, Jack Van Boekel threaded an excellent pass through the middle of the ice to Matt McLeod, who raced by the Nailers defense for a breakaway goal. Less than four minutes later, Dajon Mingo converted on the first Cyclones shorthanded goal of the season after receiving a 2-on-1 pass from Lincoln Griffin to make it 4-1 Cincinnati.

The Cyclones added another three spot in the final period. Wyatt Ege made it 5-1 on a poor play goal 3:33 into the third when the rookie defenseman took a wrist shot form the center of the blue line that went through traffic. The Cyclones went 1-for-4 on the power play while playing perfect through three penalty killing situations.

Justin Vaive scored after Nick Boka raced behind the net and found the Cyclones captain for a one-timer parked in front of Nappier. At the 14:39 mark, Craggs converted on his second goal of the night and sixth of the season when he gained the Nailers line, sending a heavy wrist shot onto the goal, making it 7-1.