The Niverville Nighthawks extended their franchise-record winning streak to 14 games on Saturday night, defeating the Swan Valley Stampeders 7–4 and completing a perfect northern road swing.

Coming into the matchup, the Nighthawks’ offence had been red-hot, producing 17 goals in their previous three games. Their defensive play had been just as sharp, allowing only six goals across the last six games.

After a 6–2 win over the Northern Manitoba Blizzard on Friday night, Niverville arrived in Swan Valley looking to sweep their first northern trip of the season.

For one of the few times this year, the Nighthawks found themselves playing from behind. Swan Valley struck first midway through the opening period when Finlay Johnston cleared the puck to Trace Langan, who chipped it past a defender and beat Austin Dubinsky blocker-side on a breakaway.

It was just the fifth time this season the opposition got on the board first against the Nighthawks.  

The lead didn’t last long, as moments later Tyler Bernier danced around two Stampeder defenders before sliding the puck to John Scott, who quickly snapped a shot through the pads of goaltender Samuel Bastien to tie the game.

Swan Valley regained the edge late in the first on a power play, as Crosby Harrison’s shot was tipped in by Ethan MacTavish, who was planted at the top of the crease.

But with only 17 seconds left in the frame, Niverville answered on a power play of their own. Adam Vigfusson fed a cross-crease pass to Merik Boles, who deposited the puck to even the score 2–2.

The second period belonged entirely to the Nighthawks. Niverville erupted for five goals, seizing control. Vigfusson opened the barrage just 90 seconds into the period on a two-on-one with Hayden Wheddon, netting his tenth goal of the season.

Boles added his second of the night and tenth of the year on the power play, finishing off a scramble created by Vigfusson, who skated the puck to the top of the crease trying to find space, but his shot bounced around the crease before being knocked in by Boles. 

Loik Leduc then sprung Ryken Arran down the right wing, and Arran used his speed to beat a defender wide before snapping a shot glove side to extend the lead. Arran finished the night with a season-high three points.

Boles nearly completed a hat trick soon after, ringing a shot off the post.

The offensive pressure continued and Vigfusson struck again, taking a feed from Wheddon at the red line, moved into the left circle, and fired a blocker-side shot past Bastien for his second goal of the period.

Tyler Bernier capped off the explosive frame with a sharp-angle bank shot off Bastien, chasing the Swan Valley netminder from the game and making it 7–2 Niverville.

The Stampeders pushed back late in the period, scoring on the power play with MacTavish’s second of the game. 

MacTavish completed his hat trick with his third man-advantage goal of the night in the third period, but the late surge wasn’t enough.

The Nighthawks remain perfect on the road this season with a 7–0–0 record.

Several Nighthawks continued impressive personal runs. Vigfusson extended his point streak to five games and now has 13 points over that stretch. Dubinsky improved to a league-best 15–1–0 after stopping 22 of 26 shots.

After going six games without a point, John Scott has now recorded five points in his last three outings.

With his two assists Saturday night, Hayden Wheddon took over the MJHL scoring lead with 34 points and stretched his point streak to 11 games, having failed to record a point in only three of Niverville’s 21 contests this season. 

For Swan Valley, MacTavish’s three-goal performance marked his second hat trick of the year and represented the most power-play goals the Nighthawks have surrendered in a single game this season.

Niverville’s seven-goal output tied a season high, the third time they have hit the mark this year.

The Nighthawks continue their five-game road trip on Thursday with a visit to Virden to take on the Oil Capitals. Niverville claimed the teams’ only other meeting this season, a 4–1 decision on September 26. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.