Recently acquired Cameron Blair scored his first two goals as a North Star to lead Battlefords to a 3-1 win over the Humboldt Broncos in a key Kramer Division match up at the Civic Centre Tuesday night. Blair was picked up from the Flin Flon Bombers at the trade deadline.
It was the North Stars' ninth win in a row, moving them four points up on the Broncos in the division standings.
Play was in both ends to start the game, but Humboldt had two of the best chances early in the first period. Battlefords North Stars goaltender Michael Gudmandson made a nice save after Humboldt captain David Stumborg's shot was deflected in front of the net. Shortly after, North Stars defenceman Kendall Fransoo turned the puck over to Stuart Symenuk, but Gudmandson turned him away.
Blair opened the scoring 4:57 into the game. His original shot was stopped by Humboldt netminder Ryland Pashovitz, but Blair knocked the rebound into the back of the net.
A minute after the North Stars opened the scoring, Humboldt had a great chance to tie. On a rush into Battlefords' end, Dylan Fluter's shot hit the post behind Gudmandson's glove.
North Stars forward Jake McMillen had a chance to extend the lead when he stripped Pashovitz of the puck behind the Broncos' net. McMillen attempted a wrap-around, but the puck was knocked off his stick.
Battlefords had another great chance to go up two. With Fluter in the box for roughing, North Stars defenceman Latrell Charleson's point shot was blocked in front of Pashovitz. The puck bounced around in the crease, but no North Star was able to get their stick on it.
The North Stars' lead was extended with 1:30 left to play in the period. Battlefords captain Kyle Schmidt's stretch pass from his own zone found the tape of Blair's stick during a bad line change by the Broncos. Blair broke in on net and picked the top corner over Pashovitz's blocker for his second goal of the game and 13th on the season.
Humboldt cut the lead in half before the end of the period with a power play goal. Gudmandson made the initial save on Gray Marr's shot, but the puck was loose in front of the North Stars goalie. Three Broncos went for it before Kyle Oleniuk jammed the puck through Gudmandson's legs.
Gudmandson held the lead early in the second, making a few saves on a Humboldt power play.
The North Stars followed with a couple of chances of their own. Jake Erickson's shot from the point barely missed the net on Pashovitz's glove side. Later, Broncos defenceman Anthony Kapelke turned the puck over to Blake Young in the centre of the Humboldt zone. Young cut to the net and drew a tripping penalty on Rhett Blackmur. On the ensuing power play, Nick Fountain tipped Schmidt's point shot in front of the net, but it trickled under Pashovitz as he covered the puck.
Humboldt's best chance to tie came with 7:40 in the second period. Jarrett Fontaine was in on a partial breakaway, but the puck rolled off the stick as he tried to deke to his left around Gudmandson.
The animosity between the two teams boiled over with 6:10 to play in the second. North Stars forward Ben Greenaway and Broncos forward Justin Lund had a brief scrap in front of the penalty box to earn five-minute majors for fighting.
Following the fight, a scrum broke out beside the Humboldt net. Broncos forward Cody Pongracz was the only player pulled out of the scrum and was given a roughing penalty with 5:26 left in the period. Another gathering occurred at the next whistle. This time, David Miazga and Luke McColgan were given penalties for roughing and slashing respectively. McColgan was given an extra two minutes for roughing, negating a power play for the North Stars.
The teams returned to playing hockey and Robin Yew almost restored the North Stars' two-goal lead. Pashovitz stopped his shot, but the goaltender looked over his shoulder to make sure the puck didn't go anywhere dangerous.
North Stars forward Igor Leonenko started the third with a nice move around a Broncos' defenceman, but was unable to jam the puck past Pashovitz. The action drew a scrum after the whistle, but no penalties were called.
Five minutes into the final period, Oleniuk almost had his second of the game. He broke down the wing and entered the zone, but his shot found iron to keep the North Stars ahead. Humboldt had another chance shortly after. Fontaine centred the puck from the corner, but Ryan Aubertin couldn't knock it into the open half of the net.
Gudmandson came up big again late in the game. After Charleson fell and turned the puck over in the neutral zone, Miazga was sprung on a partial break. Gudmandson was up to the challenge and stopped Miazga to preserve the two-goal lead.
Taylor Reich sealed the game for the North Stars, scoring into an empty net with 6.7 left in regulation.
Gudmandson stopped 37 shots to pick up his 13th win with the North Stars. Pashovitz made 40 saves in his fourth loss of the season.
Battlefords (26-16-0-2) created some space between themselves and Humboldt in the Kramer Division with the win. The North Stars are second in the division behind the streaking Kindersley Klippers, who also have won nine straight games.
The North Stars travel to Flin Flon this weekend for games against the Bombers Friday and Saturday night. The team returns home Jan. 30 for a game against the Nipawin Hawks.
