Having lost 7-3 on home ice to the Battlefords North Stars a month ago and coming off of a 6-0 defeat on the road to the Humboldt Broncos Monday evening, the Melfort Mustangs were eager to return to the win column and gain some ground on the North Stars in the league standings.
They did just that at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort Friday as they scored twice in the third period to pick up a 4-3 win over the North Stars to close within three points of the defending SJHL champions.
Although the North Stars are assured of either the first or second seed for the playoffs as the Global Ag Risk Division champions, their is a chance that the second place team in the Sherwood Division might have more points than them and earn home ice advantage in the semifinal round if those sides were to play each other.
The Nipawin Hawks, who have a game in hand on their nearest rivals, are four points ahead of the North Stars in the league standings and have a seven point lead in the division over the Mustangs after a 3-2 road win over the Flin Flon Bombers Friday.
Andrew Thompson and former North Stars forward Ben Allen led the way for the Mustangs with a goal and an assist each, while Reed Gunville dished out a pair of helpers.
Colin Schmidt and Rock Ruschkowski also scored for the hosts, who recieved a 20 save performance from Evan Plotnik.
Cole Johnson paced the North Stars on offence with a goal and an assist, with Brad Girard and Owen Lamb also scoring.
MacGregor Sinclair had a pair of assists in the loss and Joel Grzybowski turned aside 34 shots.
Next up for the North Stars, who have a 39-12-2-0 record and five games left in their schedule, is a home-and-home series with the Humboldt Broncos next weekend.
The two teams will square off at the Civic Centre Friday at 7:30 p.m. before doing battle in Humboldt the following night.
