Nailers forward Troy Josephs battles with Cincinnati’s Arvin Atwal (20) during Tuesday’s game at WesBanco Arena. Photo by Joe Lovell

WHEELING — Mike Bavis liked just about everything he saw Tuesday night.

His Wheeling Nailers played toe-to-toe against what statistically speaking is the best team in the ECHL’s Western Conference, the Cincinnati Cyclones. Down to five defensemen for the final two periods after Aaron Titcomb went down early in the first with what looked to be a lower-body injury, the Nailers surrendered all of 11 shots during that time.

But in hockey, and particularly when you’re behind the 8-ball in terms of the playoff picture, moral victories don’t get a team far.

Eric Knodel waited and roofed in a beautiful no-look pass from Mike Marnell at 2:56 of overtime to give Cincinnati (30-8-6 — 66) a 2-1 victory at WesBanco Arena. It stands as an excruciating loss for Wheeling (20-21-5 — 45) as it concluded a season-high, six-game homestand with an 0-3-3 mark.

”I think that’s one of our best games, probably since Christmas,” Bavis said. ”That’s a really skilled, fast team that presents a lot of problems in terms of their forecheck, their back pressure trying to strip pucks.

”They’re a hard team to play against and I thought we hung in there and had chances to win the game. It’s a good point.

”We don’t praise moral victories very often, but if we play that way more often than not we’re going to be happy getting ourselves back into the race and into the playoffs.”

The Nailers, who are three points out of the Central division’s fourth and final playoff spot — everyone else has at least a game in hand — take their show on the road in New England. Wheeling is headed to Manchester (Friday), Worcester (Saturday) and Maine (Sunday).

”It is (tough to swallow) considering where we were coming out of Christmas,” Bavis said of the record on the homestand. ”We felt real good about where we were but we had guys here that were a part of that run that are not with us now.

”We have to make sure we play this (kind) of game.”

The goaltenders — Wheeling John Muse and Cincinnati’s Jonas Johansson — who are both playing under NHL deals, turned every shot away until the 9:26 mark of the third period. With an abbreviated 5-on-3 power play having just expired, the Cyclones were able to score on the man advantage.

Jesse Schultz fed a cross-ice pass to Alex Wideman who deposited his 16th of the season.

Wheeling got even when Winston Day Chief found Mark Petaccio in the slot. Petaccio whistled the puck — his third goal — past Johansson to tie the game 1-1 at 17:48. It ended up being the lone blemish for Johansson, who registered 30 saves for his 14th victory.

Zac Lynch made a nice curl-and-drag move through two Cincinnati defenders at 2:27 of overtime, only to be denied. Muse made a couple of big saves on the other end as part of a 19-stop effort.

”John’s been down this road before as a pro and has played games in the American League,” Bavis said. ”I don’t think when we’re under the gun that really flusters him.

”Last week I think he got in some good work with the Penguins’ development coach (Andy Chiodo) and I think it helped him refocus his game.

”He’s been really good for us.”

Muse didn’t have much of a chance on the winner. Marnell’s no-look pass forced the goaltender to go down and Knodel patiently waited before putting the puck into the top of the net for his ninth goal of the season.