For the sixth and final time this season, the Niverville Nighthawks and Steinbach Pistons met head-to-head—and once again, it delivered with playoff-level intensity.

Friday night at the Southeast Events Centre in Steinbach, the Pistons held on for a hard-fought 4–2 victory, tightening the race for top spot in the MJHL standings.

Niverville entered the matchup with the edge in the season series, having won four of the previous five meetings, all but one decided by two goals or fewer. With both teams already having clinched playoff berths, pride and positioning were front and centre.

The Nighthawks were coming off a dominant 8–1 win over the Winnipeg Blues, rebounding from their first two-game losing streak of the season. Meanwhile, Steinbach entered on a five-game heater, trailing Niverville by seven points for first overall.

After a lengthy pregame Parents Weekend ceremony, the Pistons nearly opened the scoring just 30 seconds in. Brett Kaiser was robbed from in tight by Niverville goaltender Ben Chornomydz, who made a beautiful save at the top of the crease to keep it scoreless.

Steinbach eventually broke through just under nine minutes into the first. Liam Doyle sent a puck toward the crease, looking for a streaking Sam Noad. Noad appeared to have bumped Chornomydz after he made the initial stop, but play continued and Jackson Kostiuk buried the loose puck from the top of the crease. Following a brief discussion, officials allowed the goal to stand, giving the Pistons a 1–0 lead.

Niverville responded quickly on the power play just two minutes later. Hayden Wheddon notched his twenty-seventh of the season after Jayden Mah set him up in the slot, beating Chris Quizi blocker side to tie the game.

Steinbach had a glorious opportunity to regain the lead just over a minute later when they broke in on a two-on-zero, but another unbelievable save from Chornomydz, sliding across the crease, kept the game tied. 

Steinbach regained the lead early in the second period. After Niverville failed to clear the zone, Rory Gilmore found Connor Paronuzzi at the right faceoff dot, and his one-timer made it 2–1.

The turning point came midway through the frame while the Nighthawks were on the power play. Ryan McDonald and Cole Cairns broke away shorthanded on a two-on-one. After a quick give-and-go, McDonald tapped home the return pass to extend the Pistons’ lead to 3–1, turning what could have been a tie game into a two-goal deficit.

It proved too much for the Nighthawks to overcome.

Quizi stood tall the rest of the period, including a beautiful glove save on Aaron Krestanowich from the point as the power play wound down, preserving the two-goal cushion.

Both netminders took over in the third, trading key saves as the teams continued to create chances.

With under two minutes remaining, Niverville executed a perfectly drawn-up play off a timeout. Merik Boles won the offensive zone faceoff, after which Marlen Edwards gathered the puck and ripped a wrist shot glove side to cut the deficit to 3–2.

Moments later, Edwards nearly set up the equalizer with a centring pass that sat loose in the crease, but Quizi managed to smother it before a Nighthawk could poke it home.

Niverville’s final opportunity came with 28 seconds left, when Noad was assessed a delay-of-game penalty. However, off the ensuing faceoff, Cairns broke free toward the empty net and was taken down by Krestanowich while attempting to shoot. The goal was awarded, sealing the 4–2 final.

The loss was the third in the last four games for Niverville, while the Pistons improved their winning streak to six games.

Chornomydz was solid once again despite the loss, stopping 27 of 30 shots.  It was the first time this season he allowed three goals in a game. Quizi was equally sharp, turning aside 30 shots to secure the win.

With the victory, Steinbach closes the gap to five points behind Niverville for first place in the MJHL standings. The Nighthawks still hold a game in hand with 12 contests remaining in the regular season.

Niverville returns to action Saturday night when they host the Neepawa Titans at the CRRC. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.