The Nelson Leafs lost a crucial game in Castlegar but rebounded with a blowout win the following night.
Nelson gave up three unanswered goals Friday en route to a 4-1 loss against the Rebels.
Xaiden Bignell had Nelson’s only goal, while Karl Soneff finished with 26 saves.
Matteo Hueston made 39 saves in net for the Rebels (20-18-4). Ravnoor Randhawa scored twice with singles coming from Antonio Ferrise and Evan Calder.
The next night in Nelson, the Leafs hammered the lowly Spokane Braves 7-0.
Crae Dawson, Kane Kennedy, Memfis Burgeson, Kieran Christianson, Caden Still, Seamus Boyd and Bignell each scored while Jackson McLeod had to make only 18 saves for the shutout.
Andrew Tworkowski was forced to stop 58 shots in net for the Braves (10-31-1), who have the second-worst record in the KIJHL.
The Leafs (22-17-3) are three points ahead of the fourth-place Rebels heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Finishing third would allow Nelson to take on Grand Forks in the first round of the playoffs and at least delay a match against the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, who have the third-best record in the league.
Nelson hosts Castlegar on Friday before finishing the season in Fruitvale against the Nitehawks on Saturday.