Nitehawks 7 Rebels 6

(series tied 1-1)

All that one needed was a penalty shot, three fights and a pane of broken glass, 'cause Game 2 between the Rebels and Nitehawks had just about everything else.

Ryon Sookro and Colton Donselaar each scored twice, and Chris Derochie chipped in 5 assists as the Nitehawks won a wild one 7-6 at the Complex.

Sookro opened the scoring just 14 seconds into the game, and after a Spencer Brodt equalizer, the Hawks went ahead on goals by Mason Spear and Derek Lashuk to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

The Nitehawks would add two more, courtesy of Donselaar and Sookro, chasing Rebels starting goaltender Cole Buckley in the process before Jamie Vlanich cut the lead to 5-2 after 40 minutes.

After Donselaar and Jesse Knowler exchanged power-play and short-handed markers, the Nitehawks got the eventual game-winner from Keanan Patershuk after linemate Ryan Edwards created a turnover at the Rebels blue-line.

Beaver Valley withstood a late rally as Stuart Walton, Brodt and Tyler Robinson all put pucks past goaltender Mike Vlanich in the final 12 minutes.

Beaver Valley's power-play was the difference. The Hawks went 4/7 with the man-advantage, enjoying a pair of 5-on-threes, while Castlegar managed only one power-play marker in 7 attempts. Through two games, both teams have proven they can put pucks in the net, it appears (at least through 6 periods of hockey), that the series may be won by the team that does a better job of keeping pucks out.

I'll have interviews with Derochie and Hawks teammate Austin Sture as part of Monday's gameday package (along with a Rebel once I track one down). The series shifts to Fruitvale for Games 3 & 4 Monday and Tuesday night, Game 5 will be in Castlegar on Thursday.

Out of Town: Creston Valley equalized as well tonight, posting a 5-2 win at Fernie. It was only the third time the Ghostriders have lost at home all season (and the second time to the Thunder Cats). Elsewhere, Osoyoos shut out Kelowna 5-0 to take a 2-0 lead heading back to Rutland.