After splitting the series with Meota, the Beaver Blues travelled to Cut Knife for a weeknight game against the ninth place Colts.
On the back of a strong performance from Mitch Hawtin, who converted all 19 shots against him into saves, the Beaver Blues walked away with a 4-0 victory.
In the opening frame it was all Battleford, firing 12 shots on net to the Colts’ four, and controlling the pace of play. Colts goaltender Josh Thomas made some great saves, including a cross crease pass save off the stick of Keegan Sparrow.
Todd Heck kicked off the offence with a snipe from a bad angle, hitting off Thomas’s skate and ricocheting off the post. Thomas thought the puck was already in so he skated off in disgust, but it was loose on the goal line. Tyler Wasmuth was aware of this and poked it home for his third of the season. Kevin Bendall provided the initial pass.
The penalty kill unit haf a solid first period, killing off the only penalty they committed, before a big five-on- three kill to start the second. It is often said the best penalty killer has to be your goaltender, and that’s what Hawtin was, stopping three quality chances from the Colts to keep them off the score sheet.
Sparrow would get redemption after his solid pass to the front of the net was stopped in the first. A nice pass and play on a two-on- one with tremendous speed breaking out of the defensive zone gave the Blues a two-goal advantage. Scott Maunula fed Sparrow while it was Kevin Bendall who started the play.
At the end of 40 minutes, Battleford kept the pressure on, outshooting Cut Knife 22 to 14.
Mike George scored his team-leading seventh of the season in the final frame from the right slot, beating Thomas low glove side. Sparrow registered his second point of the tilt with the assist. Pete Chandler got himself on the sheet with the first pass.
Roddy Hoffman put the game away late in the third period with a goal from the left slot, on his knees. He went short side after corralling a pass from Wasmuth. Bendall had a nice night, registering the second helper.
The Blues dominated from start to finish Tuesday night, outshooting Cut Knife 35-19.
Hawtin stopped continuous difficult chances and was well deserving of his shutout.
Battleford now sits in a tie with the Edam Three Stars for fourth place, just behind Meota.
On deck for the Blues is a bout with Maymont, Saturday at Battleford Arena.
