Home is where the heart is.
At least, that’s where the wins came from this weekend, as the Nitros and Ghostriders traded wins on home ice in Kimberley and Fernie on Saturday and Sunday.
The Dynamiters earned a 5-3 decision at the Civic Centre on Saturday evening, but dropped a 5-2 decision at the Memorial Arena in Fernie on Sunday night.
The Nitros have slipped to third place in the Eddie Mountain Division, six points behind the Ghostriders and the Golden Rockets, both of which are tied up and slugging it out for first place.
Anthony Gardner kicked things off for the ‘Riders on Saturday, grabbing a first period lead before the Dynamiters evened things up on a shorthanded effort from Eric Buckley in the following frame.
Sam Nigg put the Nitros ahead halfway through the period, for a 2-1 lead going into the final 20 minutes.
Fernie scored twice from Joel Burgess and Jared Potter to tie the game and take the lead, however, Kimberley roared back with three unanswered goals.
Corson Johnstone drew it back to a draw, before Dylan Sibbald retook the Nitro lead, with Nigg scoring again for added insurance.
Pierce Dushenko stood in net for Fernie, stopping 25 shots while Matthew Mitchell manned the crease for the Nitros, stopping 38 pucks.
Both teams had 11 opportunities on the power play; Kimberley capitalized once on Niggs first goal, while Fernie was shut out on all of their chances.
Dylan Rota led the way for the ‘Riders on Sunday evening, scoring a hat trick, including the final empty netter that put the game out of reach for the Nitros at the end of the third period.
Despite the loss, Kimberley opened the scoring on the man-advantage off a goal from Nigg. Two minutes later, the ‘Riders pulled even when Rota got his first of the game.
Fernie shut the Dynamiters out in the second period, while lighting the goal lamp twice from Josh McKissock and Rota.
Derek Chudyk made it 4-1 in the latter half of the final period for Fernie, before Nigg responded again for the Nitros.
However, a comeback fell short and Rota completed his hat trick with an empty net goal in the dying seconds.
