The Battlefords North Stars came close to having a perfect weekend, but in hockey there is a fine line between a prefect weekend and a disappointing weekend. In the end they came away with a loss in overtime and a shootout loss earning two of four points.
Friday, the North Stars were scheduled to host the Estevan Bruins, but because of the snowstorm in southern Saskatchewan, the Bruins couldn't get to North Battleford and the game was rescheduled for Sunday.
Saturday, the North Stars were in Humboldt and maybe deserved a better fate, but suffered the 3-2 overtime loss.
Humboldt was outshot 13-4 in the first period, but the Broncos had the 1-0 lead after Joey Davies got the Broncos' offence started in the first period.
In the second frame, Tanner Quinn scored his fourth goal of the season from Dillon Forbes and Brody Luhning. Later, Luhning scored his 11th of the season from Forbes and Josh Betinol.
Humboldt also scored in the second period when John Lawrence was set up in the slot and the game was tied 2-2 heading into the third period.
The score stayed the same through the third period despite some good scoring chances by the North Stars.
Adam Antkowiak scored in overtime to help the Broncos steal a win from the North Stars despite a strong effort.
Humboldt was outshot 41-28 in the game, but outshot the Battlefords 5-1 in overtime to earn the win.
The North Stars' power play struggled, as they scored just once on 10 opportunities. Casey Parker was in net for the North Stars with Connor Creech sidelined and in a backup role as he continues to recover from an injury suffered last week.
Matt Hrynkiw was in net for the win for Humboldt.
Sunday, in the make-up game against Estevan, the North Stars had one of their most impressive starts to any game this season, but failed to capitalize and pull away from the Bruins. The North Stars were outshooting the Bruins 10-0 near the halfway point of the first period. Estevan's first shot came on a breakaway that Parker turned away.
The North Stars did however get on the board in the first period when Betinol found a loose puck and slapped it in on the backhand. Luhning and Kyle Hall assisted on his 12th goal of the season.
In the second period, the Bruins caught a break after a turnover by the North Stars in their own zone led to a quick shot and a shorthanded goal for Hudson Morrison.
Betinol scored again for the North Stars on the power play later in the second period, as Blake Young and Luhning earned the assists.
The Bruins once again tied the game when Zach Douglas fired a point shot in the second period.
In the third period, Young gained the Bruins' zone with speed, circled behind the net and fired a wrist shot from the circle over Cutis Marinu's glove to once again give the North Stars a one-goal lead. Betinol assisted on Young's third tally of the season.
The North Stars' looked poised to earn the win against the Bruins, but with the goaltender pulled, Morrison scored his second of the game on a mad scramble around Parker's net.
The Bruins tied the game and neither team scored in overtime meaning the extra point would come down to a shootout.
Both Dylan Smith and Alex Cote scored for the Bruins while Jake McMillen and Luhning failed to score for the North Stars and they suffered another heart breaking loss on the weekend.
The North Stars outshot the Bruins 46-32 though 65 minutes, but again a struggling power play didn't give them the insurance they needed to secure the win. The North Stars were 2/8 with the man advantage against Estevan.
The North Stars were frustrated with their weekend results as they failed to close the gap on Nipawin and now have La Ronge closing in the rear view mirror.
"I felt that if we are giving up 32 shots we are giving up our zone way too easily, commented coach Kevin Hasselberg after the Sunday game. "Tonight we did that, we were backing in on top of Casey and when our D-men aren't playing with the confidence to play up in the opposition's face through the neutral zone that is what is going to happen."
The North Stars will look to get back the swagger that was noticeable in the first two games after the holiday break, as they entertain the Melfort Mustangs Tuesday.
The North Stars will play a home-and-home set this weekend with Kindersley. Friday the teams face off at the Civic Centre and Saturday they will be back in Kindersley.
