Once the clock ticked past 3:30 in the third period, Nico Daws could stop stressing in the Guelph Storm net.
A week ago in Kingston the Kingston Frontenacs scored with 3:31 left in the game to spoil Daws' bid for his first career OHL shutout.
Sunday on home ice he sealed the deal, stopping all 27 shots he faced for his first career shutout as the Storm downed the Kingston Frontenacs 9-0.
"It feels pretty good to get it over with," said the six-foot-five, 225-pound Burlington native. "I thought I was going to get it last week (in Kingston) but they scored with three and a half minutes left in the game."
"Today I was stressing around the 3:30 mark. I didn't want a repeat of last weekend," he said.
Probably a little sweeter getting it at home, given that his parents, sister and girlfriend were in the stands to see it.
"They might be the last place team in the East, but they didn't make it easy for me," Daws said of Kingston.
The shutout came in the second-year goaltender's 21st career start.
Preserving it wasn't easy.
Kingston put one behind him on the power play just as the buzzer sounded at the end of the second period, but after video review it was ruled the puck entered the net after time had expired.
The Storm also had to kill off six penalties, including a lengthy five-on-three disadvantage.
Daws has seen a fair bit of action of late.
"It's definitely been better for me, even if it's just to boost my confidence. It's really important for me to feel confident and have all the guys confident in front of me as well."
Sometimes the scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story, but it sure did Sunday, as Guelph put nine goals, a season high, behind Kingston goaltender Brendan Bonello.
Liam Hawel struck 1:25 into the first period and Guelph never looked back, leading 4-0 after one and 5-0 after two.
Hawel finished with a five point night, adding four assists to his goal, while defenceman Owen Lalonde had four assists.
Isaac Ratcliffe snapped his mini five-game scoring drought with a pair of goals, Daniil Chayka also had a pair and singles went to Markus Phillips, Alexey Toropchenko, Mackenzie Entwistle and Nate Schnarr.
Gueph's Keegan Stevenson left the game in the first period after receiving a check to the head. He was kept out of the rest of the game as a precaution.
Guelph plays in London on Wednesday then hosts Kitchener on Friday and Flint on Family Day Monday.
