The Battlefords AAA Stars evened the SMAAAHL final at one game each after a 5-2 win over the Regina Pat Canadians at the Civic Centre Tuesday.
The Stars got goals from five different players and 26 saves from Brett Pongracz in the win.
After giving up three power-play goals in game one, the Stars got one of their own halfway through the period.
Keifer Hintz sent a pass to Keegan McBride at the blueline, and his one-timer was deflected in the slot by Chad Grambo to give the Stars the lead.
Four minutes later, there was a scrum at the side of the Canadians goal.
Kaelen Holt found the puck, and somehow sent into the top corner of the net despite goaltender Curtis Meger seemingly covering the post.
Kyle Salaway and Conner Manegre picked up assists on Holt’s fourth of the playoffs.
Late in the period Pongracz made a pair of saves off turnovers right in front of his goal.
The shots ended 8-6 in favour of the Stars after one.
Early in the second the Canadians took advantage of their first power play of the game.
With Kaleb Dahlgren in the box, Tyler Adams beat Pongracz to cut the lead to 2-1.
Tyran Brown and Ryan Roberts were given the assists.
Just over three minutes later, the Canadians tied the game when a long point shot from Brown beat Pongracz through a screen.
Two quick goals didn’t rattle the Stars, however.
Six minutes after Adams’ goal, Layne Young carried the puck into the Regina zone, swooped in behind the net and jammed the puck on goal while coming out the far side.
Somehow the puck snuck through Meger to restore the Stars’ lead.
Spencer Bast and Jared Hillis picked up assists.
The Stars led 3-2 after two, with an unusual shot total of 17-16 in favour of Regina.
The Canadians came out with a mission in the third, furiously throwing pucks on Pongracz trying to tie the game.
The Stars’ goalie stood tall, making a number of big saves on scrambles in front of the net to preserve his teams one-goal lead.
With 1:28 left in the game, Braydon Buziak iced the game for the Stars, scoring into the empty net after the Canadians pulled their goalie for the extra attacker.
Bast would add another empty-net goal, this one short handed, with 21 seconds remaining.
The Stars now head to Regina for game three Wednesday night.
Their win in game two guarantees there will be one last game at the Civic Centre this season when game four takes place Saturday night.
