The top two teams in the MJHL went head-to-head Friday night at the Southeast Events Centre, and the matchup lived up to the hype.

The Niverville Nighthawks entered the contest riding a remarkable 16-game winning streak and boasting a 22–1–0 record, while the hometown Steinbach Pistons—winners of five of their previous six—were eager to put a stop to it in front of a their home crowd.

First Period

The opening period felt like a playoff matchup, with both teams coming out flying and trading chances. The Pistons struck first less than three minutes in while on the power play when Marek Miller chipped the puck deep, circled the net, and fed a cross ice pass to a wide-open Rory Gilmour to make it 1–0.

Niverville answered midway through the frame. Thomas Phillips joined a three-on-two rush, took a pass from Adam Vigfusson, and buried his own rebound past Easton Thvedt. The goal was Phillips’ third of the season and his second in his last three outings.

The Nighthawks weren’t done. Evan Panzer won an offensive-zone draw, drove straight to the net, and tipped Aaron Krestanowich’s point shot to give Niverville a 2–1 lead.

Steinbach pressed late, including a wild scramble off a fortunate bounce from the end boards that found its way back in the crease, but Austin Dubinsky found a way to keep the puck out. Shots after one were 15–13 for the Pistons.

Second Period

The pace didn’t slow in the second. After both teams traded early chances, Steinbach pulled even when Brett Kaiser dropped the puck to Evan Gradt just inside the Niverville zone. Gradt moved the puck through the right circle and patiently took the puck just below the goal line before banking a backhand off Dubinsky’s leg to tie the game 2–2.

Niverville responded quickly, once again showing the composure they’ve shown in close games all season. Calyb Moore sprung Rykan Arran down the left wing, and the speedy forward ripped a glove-side shot home for his seventh of the year, putting the Nighthawks back in front 3–2.

Steinbach had a chance to tie things up on the power play midway through the period, firing multiple quality chances at Dubinsky, including a one-timer from Kaiser that required a stellar right-pad save, but they were unable to light the lamp.

Almost immediately after the man advantage expired, the Pistons appeared to score during a scramble in the crease, but the play was blown dead just moments before the puck crossed the line as the official lost sight of the puck. 

In the dying seconds of the frame, Kaiser nearly tied it again when his shot found its way through Dubinsky, but Krestanowich swept the puck off the goal line.

After 40 minutes, Steinbach led the shot clock 31–20 but trailed on the scoreboard 3–2. 

Third Period

The third period felt similar to the second, with more odd-man rushes and chances at both ends. Steinbach continued to put the pressure on, and their effort was finally rewarded.  

With under seven minutes remaining, Niverville had an opportunity to clear their zone but failed to do so, allowing Luke Bogart to hold the puck in and set up the tying goal. After his first centring attempt was blocked at the side of the net, Bogart slid to the opposite side and fed Gradt in the slot, who ripped a one-timer past Dubinsky to make it 3–3, sending the game to overtime.

Overtime

Niverville had a chance early in the extra frame with Dawson Zeller generating the first quality chance, flying down the left wing, only to be denied by Thvedt’s glove.

Seconds later, a Pistons two-on-one was thwarted by a sharp defensive breakup from Krestanowich.

But with just over two minutes to play, Kaiser, who was all over the ice on Friday night, found Gilmour alone in the slot, and the forward wasted no time, snapping a shot over Dubinsky’s glove to secure the 4–3 victory and halt Niverville’s remarkable streak at 16 games.

Final shots on goal favoured the Pistons 40–26. 

The Nighthawks did earn a point, however, and have now registered at least one point in 17 straight games.

The Nighthawks’ record falls to 22–1–1 while the Pistons improve to 20–5–1. Niverville has a four-point advantage over the Pistons in the East Division with two games in hand.

Niverville finally returns home after a three-week stretch away from the CRRC. They’ll host the Virden Oil Capitals on Sunday, December 7, with the puck drop scheduled for 6:00 p.m.