The Niverville Nighthawks were once again on the losing end of a contest with the Virden Oil Capitals, falling 4–0 on Saturday night at the CRRC. With the loss, the Nighthawks drop to fifth place in the MJHL’s East Division with a record of 6–6–0.
Virden opened the scoring in the first period with a goal six minutes in and didn’t look back. The Oil Capitals then silenced the home crowd in the second period with a trio of goals to go up 4–0.
That’s how the game would end as the third period was scoreless.
Niverville’s Raiden LeGall stopped 25 shots in the loss. The Nighthawks actually outshot Virden but weren’t able to get through and bury any goals on the night.
“Traffic and more traffic,” says Nighthawks head coach Dwight Hirst. “Shots without traffic isn’t the recipe unless you’re beating goalies clean. Second chance opportunities don’t come without that net-front traffic.”
For the Nighthawks, this was the fourth game in three games, but Hirst doesn’t see that as a contributing factor.
“The fact that we played three games in four games can’t be an excuse as nobody in this league cares if you’re tired. Results come from finding ways to succeed when you’re tired or not getting the bounces. You find another way to come out with a result that goes your way.”
The Nighthawks are back in action with a home game on Wednesday night against the Steinbach Pistons. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
“We’re going to work with some game tape, with an instruction on structure when the offence isn’t going and getting it done,” says Hirst. “We have to find ways to win when things are not going your way.”
