The Kindersley Klippers extended their season two nights ago when they were able to snap the Battlefords North Stars 14-game winning streak. The black and white had them against the ropes once again Saturday with another chance to win the series, this time in front of their own fans, and head on to the SJHL semifinals. The fan base has been tremendous, and the North Stars’ record at home is a great indication of that, having only lost four times in regulation throughout the season while showcasing a 2-0 record during the playoffs.
You can add another tally into the win column, as the Battlefords walked away with an exciting 3-1 victory.
In the opening frame it was the Klippers who found the net first, however. A pass to the point gone wrong for the North Stars led Dexter Bricker on a dead sprint for the puck in the neutral zone. Bricker was able to bust down the left wing before firing a snapshot far side and over the glove of Tyler Fuhr. 1-0 Klippers.
After 20 minutes the Battlefords led in the shots department, 17-10, and had numerous quality chances that were stopped by Nathan Hargrave, who was coming off a 33-save performance.
The North Stars came back in the second period with a big goal from Igor Leonenko. It was what happened in the neutral zone that was most impressive. Coby Downs was able to drop the puck to Layne Young, who had a boatload of speed going the opposite direction, springing him for a two-on-one. Young was able to saucer a pass to a wide open Leonenko before he wristed his fifth of the playoffs into the back of the net.
Fuhr had a tremendous middle frame, making sure this game stayed tied. A big post-to-post save as Sam Chatterley tried to wait him out was the highlight of the night defensively. Fuhr was able to throw his glove out at the last second to rob the forward of his first of the postseason.
“It’s the playoffs now, you have to make a save to win a game,” Fuhr said after the tilt, “As a goalie, if you want to be successful you have to steal some games and make the saves you should to change the pace of the game.”
Fuhr finished the night with 27 stops.
Chatterley wasn’t a fan of his missed opportunity as he mistakenly ran over Fuhr, who was trying to play the puck, minutes later. Ryan Rosenberg came to Fuhr’s aid much like Kendall Fransoo had done in game two when Austin Calladine took liberties with the North Stars goaltender.
“We are brothers in there. It’s nice to have the guys looking out for me. I actually talked to Chatterley [after the game] and he caught an edge.”
The charging penalty gave the Battlefords a five minute power play, with three minutes carrying over into the final stanza, setting the stage for an electric finale.
The black and white outshot Kindersley 29-20 through two periods.
In the final frame, the Klippers were able to kill off the three minutes of penalty time Chatterley faced. It wasn’t until Young was tripped up on a breakaway where the real excitement began. The rookie of the year had beaten Zackary Klebaum on the right wing after the defenceman lost his footing. On a last ditch effort, he threw his stick at the skates of Young, providing the crowd of 1,100 with a penalty shot.
On the one-on-one with Hargrave, Young was patient, shifting from forehand to backhand before flipping the puck into the back of the net for his fourth of the playoffs. The tally gave the North Stars their first lead of the game.
“That was a heck of a move,” Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg said following the win, “there’s a ton of people watching on home ice, in a 1-1 game and he puts the puck in the net ... What a great player.”
Leonenko later iced it with a backhand shot from an odd angle at the side of the net. The goal came on the man advantage, which provided a spark for the power play unit, who came into game five scoring just two goals on 24 opportunities. His second of the tilt was his sixth of the postseason, unassisted.
Hasselberg spoke about the unsuccessful power play, giving a tip of the cap to Hargrave.
“I can’t believe how many highlight reel saves he made. On back-door plays, on one-timers, he was unbelieveable in this series.”
The Battlefords now have a date with the Flin Flon Bombers in the second round. The North Stars held a 2-3-1 record against Flin Flon during the regular season, and you can expect much more of the same physical style in round one to carry over into this affair.
News-Optimist THREE STARS
1) Layne Young (GWG, A)
2) Igor Leonenko (2 G)
3) Tyler Fuhr (27 saves)
