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The Niverville Nighthawks traveled to Winnipeg Sunday night and faced off against the Freeze at the Bell MTS Iceplex, eventually losing a tightly contested game 3-2.
The first period saw a number of chances from both sides but neither team managed to find the back of the net. Shots on goal after one period were 11-8 in favor of Niverville. The goalies on both sides played well and stopped some good opportunities on scoring chances.
Heading into the second with the score tied at one, Nathan Lenoski (Freeze) took the puck down the left wing and charged in towards the net. He managed to score after bowling over Niverville goalie Chris Fines at the 1:33 mark. Fines was injured on the play and had to leave the game with Scott Thompson coming in off the bench.
A few minutes later, Winnipeg forward Aiden Dufault capitalized on a centering pass from Elliot Perrault and lifted a shot over the glove of Thompson, making the score 2-0. The goal came at 4:05 into the second frame.
The Nighthawks managed to control the play in the offensive zone and had a near miss when the puck hit both posts after a net-front scramble. During the ensuing scrum, Niverville forward Jack Lambert was sent to the box for Interference and set up a power play for the Freeze. Aiden Dufault factored in on another goal, this time on the power play after the Freeze connected on some nice passing. Briggs Jowett rifled a shot up high, giving Winnipeg a three-goal lead with 7:07 remaining in the second.
Late in the period (19:55), Winnipeg defenseman, Naaman Hofer received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for spitting on a Nighthawk player.
The Nighthawks opened the third period on the power play and it didn’t take long before Josh Paulus blasted a one-timer into the top corner, getting Niverville on the board. Brett Tataryn and Evan Bortis assisted on the goal.
The Nighthawks pressed and managed a few good chances but thanks to some good goaltending from Freeze netminder, Michael O’Sullivan, it remained a 3-1 game until 15:49 of the third period. Josh Paulus scored his second goal of the game, again on the man advantage, and cut the Winnipeg lead to one. Almost a carbon copy of the first goal, Paulus ripped a one-timer past O’Sullivan after Niverville forwards, Gavin Gunderson and Brett Tataryn swung the puck around the zone.
The Nighthawks pulled the goalie late in the final period but couldn’t come up with the equalizer. Niverville drops their second game in a row and fall to a 1-4 record as Winnipeg improves to 1-3. The final shot tally was 36-21 in favor of Niverville.
Nighthawks travel to Selkirk on Thursday night as they will face the Steelers for the first time.