Cameron Blair scored his fourth and fifth goals of the playoffs to lead the Battlefords North Stars to a 2-1 victory over the Estevan Bruins in game five of their SJHL quarter-final series at the Civic Centre Friday night.
With the win, the North Stars eliminated the Bruins after winning the series 4-1.
Blair had a strong opening series for Battlefords, picking up a point in every game. He had five goals and two assists in five games played. Head coach Kevin Hasselberg said he has profound respect for players like Blair.
"We brought him in for a reason and he's shown why."
Captain Kyle Schmidt was generating offence early in the first from the point. His shots were redirected twice, one forcing Estevan netminder Matt Gibney to kick the puck away with his pads.
It was the Bruins who opened the scoring midway through the first period, quieting the 1,521 fans in attendance. Battlefords goalie Michael Gudmandson made the initial save on Cory Koslowski's shot. Tanner Froese picked up the rebound and passed across the net. Austin Daae redirected the puck past Gudmandson to give Estevan a 1-0 lead 6:40 into the frame.
Blake Young was applying pressure to the Bruins' defence midway through the period. He collected the puck off the back of the net and wrapped a pass around to the front of the net. Ryne Keller was in front, but sent the puck wide of the net on the right side.
The North Stars kept the pressure on as they tried for an equalizer. Igor Leonenko had two chances. He snapped a shot quickly off a faceoff that almost fooled Gibney. Later, his shot was stopped by the Bruins goaltender and sent around the back of the net. Luke McColgan grabbed the loose puck and put it on net, but the toe of Gibney's skate kept it out.
Blair picked up his first goal before the end of the period. With 1:24 left, he took a pass in the centre of the Bruins' zone and snapped it over Gibney's blocker. Latrell Charleson and Keller set up Blair's goal.
In the second, Estevan generated a chance off the forecheck. David Robertson won the race to a puck behind the net. He centred it for Keegan Allison, but the Bruins forward was unable to jam it past Gudmandson. Later, a shot squeaked through Gudmandson and sat in the crease. Schmidt was able to get to the puck first and clear it from danger.
Gudmandson's best save of the period came shortly after. Daae was left alone in the slot and snapped a shot on target. The North Stars goalie flashed the glove and knocked the puck down, making the stop and keeping the game tied at one.
Gibney countered early in the third period. He showed his agility by making multiple saves as the North Stars were buzzing in front of the Bruins' goal. Gibney was able to keep the puck out of the net by sliding from side to side.
The North Stars solved Gibney again with the eventual game-winning goal on a power play midway through the third. With Bruins affiliate player Josh Rieger in the box for boarding, Blair got the go-ahead goal. He gathered the puck on the right side of the net and cut in front, jamming the puck over the goal line with 10:28 left to play.
Gudmandson preserved the lead for the rest of the period. The North Stars had a couple of chances at an empty net late in the third, but they kept the Bruins out of their zone for most of the final moments.
Gudmandson stopped 20 shots to clinch the series for the North Stars. Gibney made 31 saves in the loss. Hasselberg said it was important to close out the series Friday night to avoid another bus ride to Estevan.
"You don't want to make another trip down south, especially that long bus ride," said Hasselberg. "It all wears players out. That certainly played a factor in the series with Estevan going back and forth to Flin Flon in their five-game series. It was important that we won tonight. We needed this rest and our guys worked hard to earn that."
The North Stars turn their attention to the Melville Millionaires, who swept the Kindersley Klippers in the quarter-finals. Game one and two of the semifinal series are Friday and Saturday night at the Civic Centre. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
