The Niverville Nighthawks battled back on Saturday night and clinched first place in the MJHL, defeating the Winkler Flyers 4–3 in overtime in what could be a preview of a first-round playoff matchup.

And who else would it have been but Dawson Zeller, scoring his third overtime winner of the season? This seesaw affair saw each team hold the lead at various times at the newly renovated Centennial Arena in Winkler.

Niverville entered the contest having won four of the clubs’ first five meetings, although Winkler had taken the most recent matchup with a 7–5 victory on February 5.

Midway through the first period, Tanner George fired a one-timer from the top of the left circle after receiving a pass from Nik Gudmundson. The power play goal beat Niverville goaltender Austin Dubinsky blocker-side, giving the Flyers an early 1–0 lead.

Winkler nearly doubled the advantage minutes later during a goalmouth scramble, but Dubinsky held his ground to keep the deficit at one.

Late in the period, though, the Nighthawks were awarded a power play and Loik Leduc produced a moment of individual brilliance, the likes of which Nighthawks fans have gotten used to this season.

Leduc picked up the puck at his own blue line, carried it through the neutral zone on a one-on-four rush, split the Flyers defence, and broke in alone before slipping a backhand past Liam Ernst. The goal, Leduc’s twenty-second of the season, tied the game 1–1, with assists going to Thomas Phillips and Evan Panzer.

However, Winkler regained the lead in the final minute of the period. George tipped a Rhylan Baxter point shot past Dubinsky for his second of the night and thirtieth overall, giving the Flyers a 2–1 lead heading into intermission.

Winkler carried the momentum from their late goal in the first period into the middle frame, creating a quick two-on-one chance just 20 seconds in. But they couldn’t convert.

Moments later, the Nighthawks capitalized. Panzer fed Zeller from behind the net, and Zeller buried the chance from in tight to tie the game 2–2. The goal was Zeller’s nineteenth of the season, while Leduc and Panzer both picked up their second points of the game with the assists.

Niverville grabbed its first lead shortly after on the power play. Kole Mears beat Ernst for his sixteenth goal, Jaden Mah collecting his twenty-second assist and Merik Boles adding his forty-sixth helper.

Winkler continued to press throughout the period, but Dubinsky stood tall, making several Grade-A stops. The Flyers outshot Niverville 15–12 in the frame and 30–22 overall through two periods, but the Nighthawks carried a 3–2 lead into the third.

The Flyers dominated the opening minutes of the third period, firing the first 11 shots of the frame as they searched for the equalizer. Dubinsky continued to frustrate Winkler shooters until the pressure finally paid off.

A point shot from Jacob Michelson was stopped by Dubinsky, but Kam Thomas found the rebound at the top of the crease and tucked it in to tie the game 3–3.

Niverville nearly regained the lead moments later when Zeller beat Ernst, but his shot rang off the crossbar.

With neither team able to break the deadlock in regulation, the game moved to overtime. But already the single point secured by the Nighthawks was enough to officially clinch first place in the MJHL.

However, Niverville wasn’t done.

After another key save from Dubinsky, Aaron Krestanowich and Zeller broke in on a two-on-one rush. Krestanowich slid a pass across the slot, and Zeller, with a defender on his back, tucked a backhand past Ernst to seal the 4–3 overtime victory.

Dubinsky made the difference on the night, stopping 40 of 43 shots, Winkler having outshot Niverville 43–32.

The victory extended the Nighthawks’ winning streak to nine games and improved their record to 49–6–1.

The Steinbach Pistons kept the race for first place close with their fourteenth straight win Saturday over the Northern Manitoba Blizzard, but it wasn’t enough to catch Niverville.

The Nighthawks now close out the regular season next week with two road games. They will travel to face the Selkirk Steelers on Tuesday before wrapping up the schedule Friday night against the Portage Terriers.

With first place secured and momentum on their side, the Nighthawks now turn their focus toward what they hope will be a deep playoff run.