The Niverville Nighthawks defeated the top-ranked Steinbach Pistons on Saturday night with a monumental 3–2 victory over their rivals on the road. With the win, the Nighthawks remain in fourth place in the MJHL’s East Division with a record of 22–13–2.
Steinbach opened the scoring halfway through the first period to lead. Just a few minutes later, Adam Vigfusson hit paydirt to tie the contest.
In the second period, the Pistons scored to once again take the lead. And again, the Nighthawks replied, this time with Matteo Speranza potting his eleventh goal of the season.
In the closing minutes of the second period, Vigfusson scored his team-leading twenty-fourth goal of the season to put the Nighthawks ahead.
Steinbach fought hard in the third period and peppered Austin Dubinsky, in goal for the Nighthawks, with shot after shot—but it was to no avail, and when the clock wound down to zero Niverville had held on for the win.
Dubinsky heroically stopped 46 shots in goal. In total, the Nighthawks were outshot 48–32.
“Our goalie played superb in the net,” says Nighthawks head coach Dwight Hirst. “He won us that game with his strong play, but our team also played hard and stuck with Steinbach all night. It was a great team win against a very good team that will hopefully help us gain confidence.”
This was the last time these two teams will meet in the regular season. In six meetings, the Nighthawks beat Steinbach twice, a good enough record to give Niverville some confidence that they can hang in with the league’s very best.
The Nighthawks are back in action tonight with a home game against the Virden Oil Capitals. The puck drops at 6:00 p.m.
