The Beaver Valley Nitehawks returned to action on Tuesday after a big win over Nelson on Friday, however, the home team faltered in a 3-2 loss to the Grand Forks Border Bruins.
Grand Forks goalie Justin Dueck stopped 48 shots and a gutsy performance from the Border Bruins eked out their third win of the season and second over the Hawks in the 3-2 victory.
Bruins forward Cody Quinney broke a 2-2 tie at 12:41 of the final frame for the game winning goal.
The loss to the Border Bruins was a disappointing home effort for the Nitehawks, following a tough December that saw the team win just two out of seven matches.
Hunter Burgeson opened the scoring at 8:22 on an unassisted effort to give Beaver Valley a 1-0 lead. But Grand Forks Matteus Reis notched his 11th of the year on the power play to tie it with under a minute to play in the opening frame.
The teams traded goals in the second with Jameson Flint putting Grand Forks up 2-1 at 2:51, before Burgeson scored his second of the night and ninth of the campaign to tie it at 13:05.
The Nitehawks outshot the Border Bruins 50-33, but Bruins goalie Dueck was the difference maker on the night, with several key saves in the victory.
B.V. remains in second place in the Neil Murdoch Division at 14-13-1-0, behind Nelson, 17-9-0-1. However, Castlegar is closing the gap, and trail the Hawks by just four points.
The Nitehawks are on the road on Friday in Castlegar, and return home on Sunday with a 3 p.m. tilt versus the Golden Rockets.
Read: Nitehawks double up Rebels
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