The Niverville Nighthawks wrapped up their northern road trip Saturday night with a hard-fought 3–2 overtime victory over the Northern Manitoba Blizzard, completing a four-game season sweep of the season series.
Despite dominating much of the play, the Nighthawks were forced to battle for every inch against a Blizzard squad that leaned heavily on standout goaltending to push the game beyond regulation.
On paper, it was a matchup between the top team in the MJHL and the last-place club in the West Division. But the Blizzard proved that games aren’t decided on paper.
After a scoreless first period, Niverville controlled the second, outshooting Northern Manitoba 21–4 and carrying a commanding 36–10 shot advantage into the third. Yet Blizzard netminder Nick Kunyk stood tall, turning aside chance after chance.
Calyb Moore was denied twice on a chaotic sequence midway through the second period, while several prime opportunities, including a one-timer from Boles and a wide-open look from Marlen Edwards, were turned away.
The breakthrough finally came on Niverville’s twenty-eighth shot of the night midway through the middle frame. Aaron Krestanowich fired a puck toward the net that was redirected by Evan Panzer for his twenty-second goal of the season, giving the Nighthawks a 1–0 lead. Krestanowich earned his thirtieth assist on the play, while Jaden Mah, returning from a two-game suspension, picked up his seventeenth.
There were some tense moments in the period as well. Kole Mears left briefly after taking a shot to the face. He later returned, though, and Edwards was helped off the ice after a heavy hit in front of the Blizzard net late in the period before coming back for the third.
After being largely untested through two periods, Niverville goaltender Ben Chornomydz came up with a key right-pad save early in the third as the Blizzard pressed for the equalizer.
Moments later, the Blizzard capitalized on one of their few opportunities. John Adlyss let a shot go from the point that was stopped, but the rebound bounced back to him in the slot and Adlyss buried it glove side to tie the game, ending a 119-minute, 23-second stretch without allowing a goal for the Nighthawks.
Niverville responded midway through the period. After drawing consecutive penalties, the Nighthawks cashed in on the second power play. Hayden Wheddon created some space in the slot before ripping a shot glove side to restore the lead at 2–1. The goal was Wheddon’s thirty-first of the season, moving him into sole possession of second in MJHL goal-scoring—five behind Trevor Hill of the Portage Terriers—while extending his league-leading point total to 79.
But the Blizzard refused to go away. With under two minutes remaining, Dylan Westmann carried the puck into the Niverville zone and snapped a shot past Chornomydz to even the score at 2–2 and force overtime.
Just 33 seconds into the extra frame, Krestanowich started, and finished, the play that led to the overtime winner. After sending the puck up to Dawson Zeller at the blue line, he joined the rush, received the return pass, and ripped a wrist shot under the bar to seal the 3–2 victory.
The goal was Krestanowich’s first since December 13 and capped a two-point night for the 19-year-old Winnipeg product against his former club.
Niverville outshot Northern Manitoba 51–17. Chornomydz improved to 14–3–0, snapping a modest three-game losing streak.
The power play finished one-for-six on the night and one-for-ten on the road trip. Discipline was also a strong point Saturday night, as the Blizzard were limited to just one power play opportunity.
The Nighthawks return home with four points on the trip, extending their winning streak to three games and improving to 43–6–1 on the season. The win keeps Niverville three points ahead of Steinbach for first place in the MJHL, with a game in hand and eight contests remaining.
With the Winkler Flyers beating the Winnipeg Monarchs Saturday night, all four playoff spots have been officially booked in the East Division, with Niverville, Steinbach, Portage, and Winkler all heading to the post-season. Virden and Dauphin have both claimed their spot in the playoffs in the West Division, with Waywayseecappo and Neepawa very close to clinching the final two spots.
Next up, the Nighthawks open a three-game homestand Wednesday night when they host the Portage Terriers at the CRRC. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.