The Battlefords AAA Stars are in the driver's seat of their best-of-five SMAAAHL playoff series against the Saskatoon Contacts.
The Stars won the first two games of the series to push the Contacts to the brink of elimination.
Spencer Bast scored twice Saturday afternoon to lead the Stars to a 4-2 win over the Contacts in game one.
It was a fast-paced start to the first period with both teams trading chances early in the game. The Stars opened the scoring with 12 minutes to play in the first period. Bast collected the puck from behind the net, skated in front and slid it between Contacts goaltender Brock Hamm's legs.
The Contacts took a penalty seconds after the Stars' goal. However, it was the Contacts who found the back of the net with a shorthanded goal. On a two-on-one rush, Kade Kehoe slowly skated into the zone. He had time and picked his spot, beating Battlefords goaltender Rylan Toth to tie the game with 11:31 to play in the first.
The Stars broke the tie with 12:24 remaining in the second period. Troy Gerein got his first goal of the playoffs assisted by Layne Young and Keifer Hintz. Bast scored his second goal of the game, this time on the power play, with 8:38 to play to make it a 3-1 game. Josh Bly and Josh LaFramboise each recorded their second assist of the game on the goal as well.
Saskatoon cut into the lead midway through the third period. Kehoe struck again shorthanded with 11:35 remaining in the game. Jordan Wall of the Contacts also picked up his second assist of the afternoon.
However, the Stars responded on the same power play. LaFramboise beat Hamm with 10:34 left in the game. The goal was assisted by linemates Bly and Bast.
Toth made 29 saves to earn the win for the Stars. Hamm stopped 35 shots to pick up the loss.
The teams met for game two of the series Sunday night in Saskatoon. The Stars scored four power play goals en route to a 5-2 win.
The Contacts opened the scoring midway through the first period. Garrett Pilon scored with 11:41 to play with assists from Kole Lind and Erik Climenhaga. Bly got his first of the playoffs when he tied the game with 9:06 left in the opening period. The Stars took the lead on LaFramboise's unassisted goal with 2:22 remaining.
The physicality between the two teams picked up with less than a minute left in the first. With 55 seconds to go in the frame, Gerein was penalized for cross checking. At the same time, Stars defenceman Mason Benning and Contacts forward Jaden Baier were given coincidental roughing minors.
After the dust settled, the Contacts were on the power play. With 44 seconds left in the first, Jimmy Lambert scored with the man advantage to tie the game at two heading into the intermission.
In the second, the march to the penalty box for both teams continued. With Saskatoon defenceman Evan Fiala in the box for slashing, Stars forward Alex Pernitsky scored 31 seconds into the power play to give Battlefords a 3-2 lead.
The Stars extended the lead to two with another power play goal. Bast scored his third of the playoffs with 12:37 to play in the second.
With 5:22 remaining in the second, Kehoe was given a 10-minute and game misconduct. Contacts defenceman Joshua Bergen was awarded a two-minute minor for high sticking at the same time.
The Stars scored four seconds into the ensuing power play. Bly, with assists from Bast and LaFramboise, beat Hamm for the third goal with the man advantage of the evening.
There were 34 penalties awarded over the course of the game.
Toth made eight saves in the third period to preserve the three-goal lead. He stopped 19 shots in the game. Hamm was busy at the other end of the ice. He made 46 saves in the game while picking up the loss.
Game three of the series is Tuesday night at the Civic Centre. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
