For the second straight night, the Humboldt Broncos fell behind 3-1 to the Nipawin Hawks, and once again, a third period comeback came up just short in a 3-2 loss.

Nipawin got on the board early when Caleb Paisley redirected a point shot from Brandan Arnold to make it 1-0 just over three minutes into the game.

The Broncos countered the early goal by scoring one late, when Logan Schatz fed Conner Lukan for his 11th goal of the season during 4 on 4 action.

In Friday's game in Humboldt, the Hawks scored two goals in the final minute of the second period to go up 3-1.

On Saturday, Nipawin made it 3-1 with goals 61 seconds apart less than three minutes into the middle frame, as Michael Grant and Austin Mikesch found the back of the net.

Jaxon Joseph scored his 15th goal of the season for the Broncos 4:36 into the third period when he put home a rebound in front of the net.

A last second attempt to tie the game rolled off a stick infront of the Nipawin net and wide, as the Hawks picked up their fifth win in as many meetings against the Broncos this season.

The Broncos put up a good fight against a Nipawin team that has not lost at home since September, and is currently riding a 15-game point streak, including 14 wins over that span.

The two teams will meet one final time in the regular season on February 16 in Nipawin.

Humboldt concludes their pre-Christmas schedule on Friday, December 22, at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort.