After a tough start to the season that saw them sit at 3-7, the Kindersley Klippers went back to Nipawin for the third matchup between the two teams in two weeks with a chance at getting back to a .500 record. For the second time in the cage, it ended in a shootout with the Klippers getting the win 2-1.

For the first period, the Klippers didn’t necessarily have a slow start, but they didn’t come out super strong and dominant either. The game started off chippy with the officials leaving some calls that others would have called, but nothing egregious was left either.

The Klippers got two powerplays in the first period, and the smaller ice surface in Nipawin made it difficult for the Klippers to enter the zone. The first powerplay showcased that from the get go and they didn’t get much, but the second one gave them a couple chances that looked dangerous, but still nothing went in.

After being down 7-3 on the shot clock early in the period, the Klippers battled back by the end of the period 9-8 Hawks on the shot clock. The Klippers ended the period much better than the start and looked like they were starting to take over the game.

After 1: Klippers 0 - 0 Hawks, shots 9-8 Hawks

The second period was close to a dominant period for the Klippers. The chippiness of the first started to slowly wain and the Klippers speed was starting to take over. Even with another two powerplays that the Klippers could barely get into the offensive zone, they still managed to put up six shots in a row on Chase Hamm but still couldn’t get into the back of the net.

Near the end of the period, the Klippers gave up their own penalty that saw the Hawks get a chance or two, but Matt Pesenti started to show what kind of a night he was having as he made some clutch saves through traffic. It wasn’t often during the game that Pesenti had to make the secondary save, but he did late in the period and it made the difference.

Defensively, the Klippers were great in the second period and stopped the puck from bouncing around the slot too much other than the spot near the end. The main take away was how well Pesenti was able to track the puck, partially from the defencemen keeping a lane to the puck so Pesenti could see, but also from how quickly he could move his body into position.

After 2: Klippers 0 - 0 Hawks, shots 19-14 Klippers, 11-5 Klippers in the period

The third period started off quickly. In the opening minute, Tylin Hilbig broke loose on a 2-on-1 with Jaxon Georget with a second defender hot on Hilbig’s tail. Hilbig looked to the net before sliding the puck across to an open Georget, and he snapped a wrist shot to the opposite corner over the glove to give the Klippers the lead. It’s also the second time in two nights Tylin Hilbig, who now has four points in three games against the Hawks, earned a point in the first minute of the third period.

The Klippers continued their hot start of the period with some fast chances, but once their powerplay failed for a sixth time, they started to slowly run out of gas. 12 minutes into the period and Nipawin scored the tying goal when the Hawks dumped the puck in behind the net of the Klippers and Ethan Whillans got to it first. He quickly passed it out front for Andrew Schaab in front who buried the onetimer.

In the final five seconds of the period, Pesenti made his first truly spectacular save of the night with a cross crease back door attempt where he was able to kick the pad back behind him to keep the puck out before sprawling forward to cover the loose rebound.

After 3: Klippers 1 - 1 Hawks, shots 26-20 Klippers, 6-6 in the period

Logan Linklater skates towards his celebrating teammates after the shootout winner.Logan Linklater skates towards his celebrating teammates after the shootout winner.

For the second straight time at the cage, the Klippers and Hawks would go to overtime. This served as a challenge for the Klippers as the Hawks controlled the puck for the first 1:45 of overtime before Noah Lindsay was able to put some pressure on in the offensive zone. He managed to hold off two Hawks behind him while keeping the puck to the wall behind the net that gave both of his tired teammates tine to hang and rejoin the play, but it only resulted in a shot that missed the net in the end.

The Hawks then went back to work, and a couple shots were taken but nothing that got by Pesenti. He stopped six shots in the period all for Nipawin, but the last was the most impressive of the night. I shot from the point that Pesenti dropped in the butterfly, but two feet in front of him a roaming Hawks forward tipped the puck and somehow Pesenti got the glove to it with 10 seconds remaining.

On to the shootout, again for the second time in Nipawin, Pesenti made two great saves on two attempts to deke him out towards the glove side. As for the Klippers, the went two for two as Bangs picked his spot on a wrist shot under the blocker, and Logan Linklater stick handled his way into the crease before a backhand into the net and an emphatic celebration.

FINAL (SO): Klippers 2 - 1 Hawks, shots 26-26

 

Game Notes:

With the win, the Klippers return to .500 record at 8-8 as the Klippers win five of their last six games.

Aiden Bangs becomes only the second player in the league with a 2/2 record in penalty shots this year, the other being Andrew Schaab who did not shoot for the Hawks.

The Klippers will be tested in their next game as they get set to take on the Humboldt Broncos on Tuesday.