Over the last few games, Battlefords North Stars head coach and general manager Nate Bedford noted that the team was going to cash in on the number of good scoring chances that they were getting.
They did just that in Unity Wednesday night as the North Stars scored four times in the first period on their way to a 6-1 win over the Kindersley Klippers.
“I thought we did a good job of getting of to a great start in the goal-scoring department,” Bedford said.
“Kindersley has a hard-working team and they always come out hard. You can take that away a little bit by getting a couple of goals early to slow them down, and that’s what we did.”
After Keaton Holinaty scored just 72 seconds into the game, Connor Logan and Owen Lamb both found the back of the net in a 12-second span midway through the opening period to chase Klippers netminder Nick Trenciansky from the game.
Logan would score his second goal of the night and his 22nd of the season later in the period, while Lamb would have an assist on a second period marker by Ben Allen.
“Owen’s one of those guys that gives you an honest effort and he does the little things that often don’t show up on the scoresheet, so it was nice to see him rewarded for his play,” Bedford said.
“Connor’s a really skilled and smart offensive player and he’s able to manufacture goals through his intelligent play. They are two different types of forwards but they are both able to find ways to put the puck in the net.”
Ryan Rosenberg rounded out the scoring for the North Stars with a shorthanded goal in the second period, while netminder Joel Grzybowski made 31 saves to pick up his 18th win of the season.
Nikolas Malencia had the lone goal of the night for the Klippers, who saw their seven-game win streak come to an end.
Trenciansky made 11 saves in a little over 13 minutes of work, while Justen Close turned aside 12 shots in a relief role.
Wednesday’s loss, coupled with a 3-2 win by the Notre Dame Hounds over the Humboldt Broncos in Wilcox, dropped the Klippers to fourth in the Finning Division and in ninth place in the league standings with a 23-24-1-0 record and 10 games left in their schedule
The North Stars, who have already won the Finning Division title and have won their last three games, now have a 12-point lead over the Flin Flon Bombers in the race for the first place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Both teams have nine games left, while the Nipawin Hawks are 14 points back of the North Stars and have 11 games remaining in their schedule.
The North Stars will be back at the Civic Centre Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. contest with the Melfort Mustangs.
The Mustangs, who have lost their last seven games, are currently 10 points ahead of the Melville Millionaires for the 10th and final playoff spot in the SJHL.
The Millionaires, who are currently mired in a six-game losing skid, have three games in hand.
