The Niverville Nighthawks showed the resilience and heart that the Nighthawks faithful have become accustomed to on Monday night, clawing their way back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4–2 and grab a 2–1 lead in their playoff series.

After falling behind early, Niverville leaned on timely scoring from their captain, steady composure, and commitment to their structure. The effort was capped by Evan Panzer’s third-period game-winner, which sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

Waywayseecappo came out strong in the opening frame, carrying momentum from their Game 2 victory. Just over five minutes in, Max Collyer opened the scoring, cutting down the left side before wiring a shot past Nighthawks netminder Austin Dubinsky to make it 1–0.

The Wolverines doubled their lead late in the period when a rebound off a Sebastian Hicks shot landed at the top of the crease, where Ben Roulette buried it for his first of the postseason. 

But the Nighthawks responded quickly, thanks to captain Adam Vigfusson. Moments after the second Wolverines goal, Vigfusson chased down his own rebound behind the net and banked the puck off goaltender Jase Wareham and in, cutting the deficit to 2–1 before intermission.

The second period tightened up, with both teams trading physical play and limiting chances. But the Nighthawks found a way to tie the game late in the period, and once again it was Vigfusson who delivered when it mattered.

After Merik Boles picked off a pass just inside the Wolverines zone, he slid a pass to Vigfusson, who found himself alone in front. He lifted the puck past Wareham to even the game.

The third period turned into a back-and-forth battle until midway through, when Calyb Moore, playing his first game of the playoffs, threaded a perfect pass across to a streaking Panzer in the slot. Panzer made it count, lifting home the eventual winner over the blocker of Wareham for his third goal of the postseason.

Waywayseecappo pressed late with the extra attacker but couldn’t solve Dubinsky, and Dawson Zeller sealed the win with an empty-netter.

After the game, Nighthawks head coach Dwight Hirst praised his team’s composure and commitment to their game plan.

“Obviously down 2–0 in the first period is not the start we wanted,” Hirst said. “But it’s nice to see the team didn’t fray away from the process that has to happen in a game, and I didn’t think we had much panic and stuck with the little things.”

Hirst emphasized the group’s confidence in tight situations.

“I think we’ve shown all season that we are comfortable in close games, and we’re okay if we are down a bit. We just stay with it and stick with the process… When teams are trying to smother you and you’re trying to find your way through, it’s about putting the puck into space and allowing the other player to skate to it, and that game-winning goal was exactly that.”

With the victory, the Nighthawks now hold a 2–1 edge in the series. Game 4 shifts back to Waywayseecappo on Wednesday night, before the teams return to Niverville for Game 5 on Friday. Puck drop for both games are set for 7:30 p.m.

See below for the game highlight reel.