The Kimberley Dynamiters had a tough weekend, dropping both home contests to the Nelson Leafs and the Spokane Braves.
Nelson reigns over the KIJHL in first place and extended their win streak to 11 games with Friday’s win, while the Braves snapped a four-game skid with Sunday’s victory.
The Nitros sit in second place in the Eddie Mountain Division, five points behind the Fernie Ghostriders, with a three-point cushion against the Golden Rockets.
Despite Friday’s 4-1 loss against the Leafs, the Nitros struck first, when Jason Richter found the back of the net late in the period for his fifth goal of the year. However, Nelson tied it up on the power play 19 seconds later on an effort from James Sorrey.
The Leafs capitalized again in the latter half of the second period, gaining a one-goal lead going into the final frame.
But Nelson held the Nitros off the scoresheet, while adding more goals from Aaron Dunlap and Dalton Stoddart, both of whom scored in the last ten minutes.
Brett Soles, who stood in goal for Nelson, turned away 23 shots, while Dynamiters stopper Jeremy Mousseau had a busy night in goal, making 36 saves in defeat.
Both teams had five power play opportunities; Nelson converted on one chance, while the Nitros were denied on all of theirs.
The Braves broke a 3-3 tie in the third period on a shorthanded effort to win the game at the Civic Centre on Sunday.
Brycen Fisher opened the scoring for Spokane in the first period, however, Tyson Klingspohn and Isaac Schacher both responded with powerplay goals for the Nitros.
But the Braves pulled even by the time the buzzer sounded, when Matt Thurston scored on the man-advantage.
The two teams swapped power play goals in the middle period, as Klingspohn notched his second of the night, while Justin Bonanno responded for Spokane.
Thurston was the third-period hero for the Braves, scoring a shorthanded goal that stood as the game winner halfway through the frame.
Bryce Halverson took the loss for Kimberley, making 24 saves, while Matt Zenzola stopped 29 Nitro shots on the other side of the rink.
Kimberley gets the week off before facing the Castlegar Rebels next Saturday on home ice.
