For the second time in as many nights, the Steinbach Pistons locked horns with the Niverville Nighthawks in another classic, tight-checking, entertaining game, and when the dust settled, the Nighthawks claimed their second victory of the weekend, 5-4.
First period
The Nighthawks came out with a game plan and executed it. Hard and fast play in all three zones kept the Pistons on their heels and resulted in numerous great chances for Niverville.
Hard work paid off for the visitors as Calyb Moore picked off a pass in the defensive zone, broke in all alone and rifled a shot past the goalie, giving him two goals on the year, and putting his team up 1-0.
A penalty against Steinbach gave the Nighthawks a chance to extend the lead, but the penalty killers managed to get the job done, keeping it a one-goal game.
Niverville would eventually grab a 2-0 lead when Dawson Zeller bulldozed his way around the net and found Kole Mears out in front, as the hulking forward shovelled in his third of the year, making it a 2-0 contest.
It could have been much more than a 2-0 game if not for Chris Quizi, who did all he could to keep the Pistons in the fight. He made 18 saves alone in the first period, battling and fighting to keep things in front of him as the Nighthawks had their way in the offensive zone.
While the score favoured Niverville, the shots on goal were equally impressive, 20-7 after 20 minutes.
Second period
After killing off a penalty, the Pistons went to work offensively, with a lot more determination, and they were rewarded.
William Picklyk broke through four Nighthawks, took a pass from Cullen Ingebritson, and fired home his second of the year, cutting the lead to 2-1. Rory Gilmour, back from his two-game absence, recorded the secondary assist.
Less than a minute later, Brody Green took a loose puck after a scrummed faceoff and wired home his 8th of the season, knotting the game up 2-2. Evan Gradt and Brett Kaiser were given the assists.
In the final minute of play, Leduc floated a shot on goal from the point that tipped off a defender’s stick and made its way past Quizi, restoring Niverville’s lead, 3-2.
A late penalty against Niverville gave Steinbach its first man advantage of the night, which would carry over into the third.
Third period
An early power play didn’t produce the tying goal, but instead, the Nighthawks used the kill as momentum, and Hayden Wheddon pushed his way to the front of the net, leaning on his stick to protect the puck, then put a wrister up high, putting the Nighthawks up 4-2.
For Wheddon, it’s his second goal in as many games, giving him eight on the year. Aaron Krestanowich and Adam Vigfusson picked up the assists.
Needing a goal, the power play went to work with a more determined, shooting mentality, and it produced the needed marker.
Gradt wheeled near the top of the circle and put a puck toward the net, finding the back of the cage after the puck appeared to change directions. Gradt was given credit for the goal, with Green and Kaiser notching the assists.
Yet again, the Nighthawks put distance between themselves and the Pistons, using a turnover below the goal line to free up the puck to a wide-open Mears in front, who deposited his second of the night into the yawning net. Zeller again picked up a helper on what would turn out to be a very important goal.
Refusing to go away, the Pistons again brought the game back to within one, as Kaiser forced a turnover near the blueline, filtered a pass down to Green, who then slid it across to Gradt, who buried his second of the night and seventh of the year, cutting the lead again to 5-4.
That would be as close as Steinbach would get, as the Nighthawks were able to clamp down, holding on for a big road win.
Game notes
Austin Dubinsky picked up his second straight win against Steinbach, making 25 saves, while his counterpart Quizi finished with 30 stops.
Steinbach’s power play finished 1 for 2, while the Nighthawks’ penalty kill was shutout, going a quiet 0 for 5.
Up next
Steinbach will travel to Neepawa on Wednesday night for a date with the Titans.
The Nighthawks will have a first-place showdown on Tuesday night as they head into Selkirk to take on the Steelers.
