Beaver Valley’s special teams launched the Nitehawks to a convincing Game 2 victory over the Grand Forks Border Bruins on Saturday.
Following a deflating last-second 2-1 loss to Grand Forks in Game 1 Friday at the B.V. Arena, the Nitehawks tallied two power play goals, a short handed goal, and shut down the Border Bruins power play for the 5-1 win.
“It was a big bounce-back game,” said Nitehawks captain Kaleb Percival. “I think it was tough having 10 days off and then coming in and playing a super-competitive team, so it’s a big win, it’s a confidence booster, and now we just have to keep rolling.”
Hawks forward Adam Redding scored what stood as the game winner on the power play late in the first period. The Spokane product redirected a point shot from Lhogan Nimmo past Bruns goalie Ethan Shebansky for a 2-0 lead 16:06 into the first period.
The win evens the Neil Murdoch Division series at one game apiece, as it moves to Grand Forks Monday.
After Grand Forks was called for too-many men with 5:37 to play in the first, Nitehawks defenceman Lucas Gartner opened the scoring with a rocket from the point.
Border Bruins Russell Kosec fired in a rebound off a pad save from Nitehawks goalie Connor Stojan 3:43 into the middle frame to cut the lead to 2-1.
However, Ollie Clement forced a turnover at centre ice, walked in and wired a shot low glove side for a shorthanded marker at 14:58, and the third straight special teams’ goal.
“Special teams is huge,” said Percival. “We have two good teams playing, and sometimes that makes a difference, so it’s good to see we are having success.”
The Border Bruins switched goalies at 11:14 with Matthew Dovichak coming on for Shebansky. The Nitehawks welcomed Dovichak personally just four seconds later when Clement banked a shot off Will Caputo on a scramble in front of the Bruins net for a 4-1 lead.
Two minutes later, Hawks forward Beau Manegre completed the scoring, with a surprising backhand from the right circle for the 5-1 final.
The Nitehawks outshot the Border Bruins 42-24 and were 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Bruins went 0-for-5.
In Game 1 of the series Friday, JP Desabarais broke a 1-1 tie when he walked through the whole Nitehawks team and beat Stojan high glove with just seven seconds remaining in regulation for a 2-1 Grand Forks victory.
With the win, the Border Bruins stole the home ice advantage. However, Beaver Valley will look to steal it back as they head to Grand Forks on Monday and Wednesday.
“We’ve been good at handling adversity all year, so I don’t think we were really worried,” said Percival of the Game 1 loss. “They have a good club over there, and we respect that, we just have to give it our all every night.”
Bruins forward Tyler Burke opened the scoring, but Clement evened the match with a power play goal 3:11 into the middle frame.
Grand Forks outshot Beaver Valley 28-27 and went 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Hawks went 1-for-4.
The Nitehawks travel to Grand Forks on Monday, March 11 for a 7 p.m. tilt and return on Wednesday for Game 4.
Game 5 will go in Beaver Valley at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 15.