A heartbreaking loss to Melfort in the dying seconds of the third period gave the North Stars a rare two-game losing streak. The Battlefords hadn’t lost three consecutive games since October 31, when they came out on the wrong end of a 3-1 game to the Bruins.
Friday night at the Civic Centre the black and white had a chance to right the ship in their fourth and final meeting against the Nipawin Hawks, who had won six of their last ten coming into the tilt.
They did just that. A 24 save shutout performance from Ryan Rewerts and an offensive explosion made sure of it, winning 6-0.
“Tonight Ryan gave us the saves he needed to give us. The shots were equal going into the second period. Ryan is definitely in the driver seat now, and it’s his job to lose.” Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg said of his goalie situation.
The black and white cooled off the Hawks late in the opening 20 minutes.
After Rewerts made a couple of tremendous saves on the doorstep, the North Stars capitalized on their third power play of the first period. The power play unit was able to move the puck around efficiently and set themselves up in the offensive zone. Layne Young made a crisp pass to Igor Leonenko, who was perched just outside the right crease. Leonenko one-timed the puck into the open cage for his 33rd of the season, giving the North Stars a 1-0 lead heading into the middle stanza.
In what was a neutral zone game, the North Stars started to crack the tough-to-play-against defence of the Hawks midway through the second, but didn’t have anything to show for it. Downs found Dustin Gorgi in the slot for a quality opportunity but wasn’t able to beat Kristian Stead. Then it was Jordan Wiest with an open cage from the point but couldn’t beat the numerous amount of bodies in front of the crease.
Gorgi wouldn’t be denied five minutes later, though. Corralling a pass from Downs before taking it to the front of the net, he was able to beat the outstretched right pad of Stead, finding the back of the net for his 24th. The line of Gorgi, Downs and Young have been on an absolute tear as of late. With the second helper, Young now has four points in the last two games.
As it has done so many times this season, the offence came in flurries as Leonenko scored his second of the game just two minutes after Gorgi made it 2-0. Troy Gerein found the big forward before he walked into the slot, snapping a shot home to give the Battlefords a three-goal advantage.
The ice tilted fully in favour of the North Stars after two, firing 24 shots on net compared to 17 from the Hawks.
Their dominant play continued in the final frame. Jake McMillen, from the right half wall in the Hawks zone, found a wide open Ryan Rosenberg on the left point. After a clean pass, the New Yorker drove to the slot, snapping a shot far side, hearing the ding of the post before seeing the puck hit twine for his second of the season. The Battlefords led 4-0 with 15 minutes to play.
The offence wasn’t quite done there, either. Another power play opportunity led to another goal from one of the best units in the province. This time it was rookie Cody Spagrud scoring off the defenceman for his second of the season. Downs registered another point with the assist, giving him six points in the last two games. The North Stars later made it 6-0 on the man advantage after Connor Sych snapped a shot that was tipped by Gorgi in the slot for his 25th of the season and second of the night. The puck slipped through the five hole of backup goaltender Michael Barabash.
The North Stars host the second place Notre Dame Hounds Wednesday at the Civic Centre.
News-Optimist THREE STARS:
1) Coby Downs - (3 A)
2) Ryan Rewerts - (24 SVs, SO)
3) Dustin Gorgi - (2 G)
