Preparation was the key in both results on the weekend trip to Flin Flon for the Battlefords North Stars.
Friday the North Stars were ready to play, scored the first two goals and skated to a 6-3 win. Saturday, the North Stars didn't look focused, gave up two first period goals and fell 2-0 to the Bombers.
In the second game of the road trip for the North Stars, Graham Hildebrand earned the start in net, but it was the goaltending of Flin Flon's Andy Desautels and some puck luck that ultimately was the difference.
Dylan Balaski and James McNulty scored for Flin Flon in the first period, one of which was a power play goal, and that would be all the offence Saturday.
The North Stars fired two shots off the iron in the first period, had a goal called off after a goaltender interference penalty and hit the post once more later in the game, but Desautels was solid as well making 35 saves in the win.
Hildebrand made 29 saves in net for the North Stars.
Friday, Hildebrand turned away 26 shots and had a good effort despite being frustrated after allowing the Bombers' third goal late in the game.
Blake Tatchell started the scoring for the North Stars, as he circled around the Bombers' zone, took a drop pass from Woody Klassen on a give-and-go and fired a wrist shot by Devin Buffalo for his 41st goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Brett Miller, who played one of his best games of the season, tapped in a backdoor pass from Brody Luhning for his 13th goal of the season. Jordan Ethier also assisted on Miller's goal.
Flin Flon was outshot 10-0 nearly 10 minutes into the game, but eventually they found the mark and Brandt Weldon cut the North Stars' lead in half with a point shot on the power play to make it a 2-1 game heading into the second period.
The North Stars had a strong second period, scoring three goals and chasing Buffalo from the net.
Klassen scored his 13th of the season on a point shot right off an endzone faceoff, as Miller and Tatchell drew the assists.
Three minutes later, Ryne Keller pounced on a rebound and scored his seventh goal of the season making it 4-1 for the North Stars. Jared Samborski was credited with the assist.
Klassen scored his second of the game with five minutes left in the second period. He moved in on a partial breakaway and scored, putting his team up 5-1.
After replacing Buffalo with Desautels, the Bombers gained some momentum. Konrad Litke scored with a quick release in the slot to make it 5-2.
In the third, Tim Rollins scored a lucky goal, as he went to pass the puck in front from the hash marks along the boards. The puck hit a Bombers' skate and deflected by Desautels. Tanner Schwab drew an assist on Rollins' goal. Rollins' 15th of the season would be the only goal the North Stars would get on Desautels in nearly 85 minutes of action on the weekend.
Dillan McCombie scored later for the Bombers' but that was all they could muster.
The North Stars fired 46 shots at the Bombers' net Friday and were 1/2 with the man advantage while allowing just one Flin Flon power play goal in five opportunities.
The weekend split makes it all but impossible for the North Stars to catch the league leading Humboldt Broncos. Both teams have three games remaining heading into Tuesday's action and the Broncos lead the North Stars by five points. One more Humboldt win or a Battlefords loss and they will be locked into second with one week left to play.
The 38-15-0-2 North Stars hosted Melfort Tuesday. The North Stars will be in Kindersley Friday before wrapping up the regular season at home Tuesday against the Klippers.
