Lane Pederson had two goals for the Saskatoon Blazers as they downed the Battlefords Stars in SMAAAHL action Wednesday night at the Civic Centre.
The defeat snapped the Stars' nine-game winning streak. They had not lost a game since a 7-1 loss to the Contacts Dec. 19 in Saskatoon.
The Blazers came out in the first period like a team that hasn't lost in over a month. They put pressure on the Stars from the opening whistle. After forcing a turnover less than a minute into the first, Connor Hobbs couldn't beat Stars goaltender Ryan Rewerts following a deke.
The pressure paid off for the Blazers. Pederson opened the scoring 1:46 into the game, beating Rewerts with a snap shot from the slot. It was his 17th goal of the season.
The Stars got their first chance of the game after killing off a boarding penalty to Brandon Lesko. Josh Bly got behind the Blazers' defence, but was unable to slide the puck past Saskatoon goaltender Brett Pongracz. They followed up shortly after with another scoring chance. Graham Gove found Bryce Neufeld across the ice for a one-timer, but Pongracz was able to slide over to make the save.
There was a dangerous play in front of the Stars' bench 5:33 into the period. After the puck passed Stars forward Josh LaFramboise, Tyler Pickett's body check made contact with Framboise's head. Pickett was given a double minor for head contact. During the ensuing power play, the Stars got some shots on net but most attempts bounced off the shin pads of Blazers defencemen in front of the net.
The Blazers returned the offensive following the penalty. Saskatoon forward Nick Lenius made a backdoor pass to Pederson, but the Blazers' goal scorer was unable to get his stick on the puck.
Play went back the other way as Bly and LaFramboise entered the Blazers' zone on an odd-man rush. Bly centred for LaFramboise, who went from backhand to forehand and tucked the puck past Pongracz's pad with 9:40 remaining for his 27th goal of the year.
The Stars almost broke the tie with five minutes to play in the first. Michael Korol pulled up a rush into the Blazers' zone. His snap shot hit the cross bar and ricocheted out of play.
Early in the second period, LaFramboise broke into the Saskatoon net on a breakaway. Pongracz knocked the puck off LaFramboise's stick before he could get a shot away.
Late in the second period, the Blazers regained the lead on the power play. With Korol in the box for slashing, Hobbs' hard slap shot from the point hit Rewerts in the shoulder and bounced into the top corner of the net for his 10th of the year.
Right after the goal, Stars forward Layne Young attempted a wrap-around, but was turned aside by Pongracz. The Stars kept pressuring for the equalizer. Bly had a chance in front of the net, but he couldn't find it with his stick.
At the start of the third, Pederson almost scored his second goal of the game. He was able to skate from the corner to the front of the net, but his backhand attempt was kicked away by Rewerts.
The Stars tied the game again 4:43 into the third. Bly received a pass from Spencer Bast and snapped the puck over Pongracz's blocker for his 17th goal.
The tie didn't last long. The Blazers took the lead again 37 seconds after the Stars' goal. David Sheppard's shot hit the post and fell in behind Rewerts to give Saskatoon a 3-2 lead.
Battlefords' best chance to tie the game came midway through the third. Pickett was sent off for slashing with 11:33 left to play. Blazers defenceman Keanan Chomyn took a tripping penalty 16 seconds later to give the Stars an extended two-man advantage. Battlefords were unable to mount any pressure on the power play and the Blazers killed off both penalties.
With less than nine minutes to play, Blazers forward Taylor Headrick checked Korol from behind into the end boards. Headrick received a two-minute minor for checking from behind and a game misconduct. The Stars were unable to generate any offence on the ensuing power play.
The Blazers put the game out of reach with less than five minutes to play. Pederson scored a fantastic goal with 4:53 left to play. He dragged the puck through the legs of a Battlefords' defenceman, cut back across the front of the net and slid the puck through Rewerts for this second goal of the game.
Pickett added an empty net goal with 1:28 to play for Saskatoon.
Rewerts, who was named the Stars' most valuable player of the first half of the season prior to the opening faceoff, stopped 29 shots en route to his sixth loss of the season. Pongracz made 36 saves to pick up his sixth win of the season for Saskatoon.
The Stars (24-7-4-1) look to get back on track this weekend with games Saturday and Sunday afternoon in Moose Jaw. Battlefords next home game is Feb. 13 against the Prince Albert Mintos. Puck drop is 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
