Dunedin Thunder fans will be cheering for their closest rival next weekend.
The side’s playoff hopes hang in the balance as the National Ice Hockey League enters its final round.
After Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Stampede, the Thunder succumbed 5-4 to a late match-winner by the Queenstown side in Dunedin on Saturday. That leaves the Thunder third on 21 points.
It has a bye in the final round, although the Botany Swarm will have to go through the Stampede to edge the Thunder for the final playoff spot.
The Stampede has already secured a playoff spot, although it is playing to clinch a direct route to a home final next week.
It held a three-point buffer over the West Auckland Admirals which had the chance to draw even against the Swarm last night.
A win to the Swarm would bring it within two points of the Thunder.
The Stampede was made to work hard for its win over the Thunder when it also reclaimed the Toa Kauhanga Riri Tio Trophy.
The Stampede started more strongly, Mike McRae, Ryan Strayer and Harrison Macharg all scoring in the first period.
Tristan Darling managed one for the Thunder, but the Stampede went to the first break 3-1 up.
Darling scored again in the second period and the defence held to bring the score back to 3-2.
The Thunder pulled that back to 4-4 through two goals to Jacob Hurring, while Matthew Schneider added one for the Stampede.
However, the defending champion dug deep late in the game when McRae scored the winner.
In the closing stages, Thunder defenceman Dylan Devlin received a knock to his throat which left him temporarily unable to breath.
Several players had tripped and the back of a skate had caught Devlin in the Adam’s apple which can cause throat to temporarily narrow. That left him on the ground for about four minutes.
However, he was attended to quickly and as the throat reopened, he was declared fine by the Thunder medics.
Had the throat swelled overnight he was to go to hospital. However, that did not happen.
