The Southern Stampede has created some serious momentum as it stages what once seemed an unlikely charge to the playoffs.

Back-to-back wins over the Botany Swarm in Queenstown at the weekend have the Stampede back in contention for the national league final.

The Queenstown side smashed the Auckland-based Swarm 9-3 on Friday night, and came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 the following night.

It will still need to win at least three of its final four games, but few would bet against the Stampede doing that now.

"We're pretty rapt, because we stuck to our game plan," captain Simon Glass said.

"We're looking pretty good and we know we're in control now. If we keep winning, we'll be in the final."

The Stampede made an explosive start to the double-header by shooting to an 8-1 lead after two periods on Friday night.

Tommy Zizian finished with a hat trick, and Connor Harrison, Brian Horwitz, Mike Sommer, Brett Speirs, Bert Haines and Glass also scored.

The Swarm scored the opening two goals 24 hours later, before Speirs responded with a rare short-handed goal.

Horwitz and Matt Schneider completed the comeback in the final period.

The Stampede, with away doubleheaders against the West Auckland Admirals and the Canterbury Red Devils to come, is third in the league with 20 points (six wins, one overtime win).

The top two teams after the round robin play the final.

The Dunedin Thunder is also right in contention, following a 3-0 win over the table-topping Red Devils on Saturday night.

Goaltender Rick Parry recorded his first shutout of the season as his team recorded its first win in Christchurch.

The Thunder opened the scoring when Andre Robichaud picked up a loose rebound and put the puck in the back of the net.

Leading goal-scorer Joni Nukari was lost through a shoulder injury near the end of the first period, forcing a promotion of Remy Sandoy to Thunder's first line. Sandoy set up Matti Haapakoski to score the Thunder's second goal, and Matt Enright scored a third.

Last night, the Thunder struggled to adapt to the referees and was thumped 9-4 by the Red Devils.

Hassan Saeed (two), James van Leuween and Enright scored the Dunedin goals.

The Thunder competes its regular season with games against the Swarm this weekend. It has the bye in the final round.