The Beaver Valley Nitehawks scored three times in the opening period then coasted the rest of the way, letting goaltender Brett Clark secure a 3-1 win over the Braves at the B.V. Arena Saturday.
Clark stopped 43 shots, including 17 in the final frame, as the Nitehawks earned their 10th straight victory in KIJHL action.
Ryan Edwards scored the winner on the power play after Taylor Everhart received a penalty for high sticking. The Trail native took a pass from Dallas Calvin and wired it by Braves netminder Zach Straza at 8:14 to give the Nitehawks a 2-0 lead. Edwards’ goal and an assist improved his numbers to 23 goals and 38 assists on the season, fifth best in league scoring.
Sam Swanson opened the scoring at 11:42 mark, netting his eighth goal of the year, and Riley Brandt put the Hawks up 3-0 at 4:37 converting an Edwards pass. Only the Braves’ Curtis Redding could beat Clark on the night, ruining his shut out bid at 8:24 of the third period.
The Nelson Leafs meanwhile reclaimed top spot in the Neil Murdoch division with three straight wins on the weekend that included a 6-4 win over Columbia Valley on Sunday, a 7-2 drubbing of Golden Saturday, in which Trail native Jamie Vlanich netted a hat trick and an assist, and a 3-1 victory over Kimberley Friday.
The Leafs hold a one point lead over the Nitehawks with 60 points, however, B.V. has a game in hand.
The Nitehawks next game is Friday when they host the Kelowna Chiefs at the Beaver Valley Arena at 7:30 p.m.