Thiessen is 5-0-0 in his last 5 games and 8-3-0 for the season. Casey Pierro-Zabotel led the team with a goal and an assist along with Blair Yaworski who contributed a goal.

The last time the teams met was on December 5th when Jordan Parise recorded a shutout of Johnstown in a 7-0 final.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel from the left-wing circle found Blair Yaworski all alone in front of the net who fired it in for his 7th of the season and gave the Nailers a 1-0 lead at 12:23 in the first. Pierro-Zabotel picked up his 20th assist and Thiessen got his 2nd assist of the season. The Nailers are 12-4-1 when they score first and are 13-4-0 when leading after the 1st period.

Mitch Ganzak opted not to pull the trigger on a slapper from the left-point and instead picked up his 19th assist connecting with Pierro-Zabotel who found himself behind Chiefs goalie John Murray. Pierro-Zabotel slammed it home for his 8th of the season that put the Nailers up 2-0 early in the 2nd. Thomas Beauregard also picked up his 14th assist.

Thomas Beauregard shot through some legs from the top of the circle in his own zone and fired it all the way down the ice for the empty net goal with 59 seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Nailers 3-0. He passed John Lammers of Alaska for 3rd in the conference with 20 goals in 37 games.

Wheeling improves to 19-16-2 as they have won 6 of their last 7 as well as 8 of their last 11 games. The Nailers are 12-6-0 in December and January. The Nailers are 5-1-1 against the Chiefs in the 7 games that they have played each other and host Johnstown again next Saturday. Johnstown falls to 9-19-7 with the loss.

The Nailers continued their climb up the American Conference standings moving into a 3-way tie for 6th place with Charlotte and Florida. The Nailers trail 5th place Reading by just one point and are only 2 points back of 4th place Toledo. The top 8 teams out of 12 in the American Conference qualify for the Kelly Cup playoffs in April.

Zach Sill took a 5 minute boarding major and game misconduct in the 1st period when he slammed Jim McKenzie of the Chiefs behind the Nailers goal. McKenzie was bleeding and went back to the locker room but eventually returned to the game.

Wheeling outshot Johnstown 28-26 in the game. They held the Chiefs to 0-for-3 on the power play including an impressive performance killing off the 5 minute major in the first. Wheeling went 0-for-3.

The Nailers will be travelling to Cincinnati Tuesday night for a game against the Cyclones at US Bank Arena at 7:30 before returning home next weekend with three more home game in three days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Wheeling’s next home game is Friday night against the Toledo Walleye on WTRF Friday Family 4-pack night. Next Saturday against Johnstown is Nailers Ski-Cap night for the first 2500 fans courtesy of WesBanco. The Nailers last home game before the All-Star Break is next Sunday at 3:05 against Elmira featuring an open-skate after the game with the Nailers players.

Nailers hockey is always the most awesome family entertainment value in town and we want you there cheering on your hometown team. Kids tickets are always $5 and students get in for only $7. Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL

Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Night is coming January 30th! Before the Nailers tangle with the South Carolina Stingrays we’ll honor the newest inductees: Doug Sauter and Nick Bedway. Sauter is the first head coach of the Wheeling Nailers organization and Nick Bedway was a long-time beat-writer for the team before retiring in 2005. Get your tickets for Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Night and other great upcoming Nailers games by calling 304-234-GOAL or log on to wheelingnailers.com to purchase your tickets online.