The Beaver Valley Nitehawks dropped the first two games of their series against the Kimberley Dynamiters, falling 4-1 and 4-3 over the weekend to trail 2-0.
In Game 1, the Nitehawks opened the scoring when Maddox Gandha struck six minutes into the game, but Kimberley responded with an equalizer later in the first period and took control from there. The Dynamiters added a shorthanded winner early in the second period and sealed the game with a power-play goal in the third.
Beaver Valley goaltender Karsten Hugenholtz made 24 saves in the loss.
Dynamiters head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said his team didn’t play its best despite the win.
“Our penalty-kill (6-for-6) was great and we were able to steal one,” he said.
Game 2 was a tighter contest, with the Nitehawks pushing back but ultimately falling 4-3. Beaver Valley was led by Brady Walker, who scored twice, while Hugenholtz turned aside 32 shots.
The Nitehawks kept pace through much of the game before Kimberley pulled ahead late, with Nate Tillmanns scoring the winner with four minutes remaining in the third period.
Carter Coutu led the Dynamiters with two goals and three points. Adam Kisilevich made 25 saves for Kimberley.
“We battled hard,” said Stuart. “Carter was a force out there tonight. He was the best player on the ice.”
Despite improved offensive production in Game 2, the Nitehawks will look to tighten defensively and find a way to contain Kimberley’s top scorers as the series continues.
Game three heads to Kimberley with puck drop at 7 p.m.
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