Dillon Forbes' third period goal was the game winner as the Battlefords North Stars beat the Ice Wolves 3-2 in LaRonge Wednesday night, extending the North Stars' win streak to five games.
The North Stars were sluggish to start the first period, playing for the second consecutive night. Ryne Keller opened the scoring when he beat Ice Wolves' goaltender Tyler Fuhr with a backhand with 8:17 left. There was some initial confusion on the ice, as the goal judge did not immediately turn on the red light.
The goal stood and the Battlefords kept the pressure up. Brenden Heinrich extended the lead to two with two minutes left in the period. He buried a bouncing puck after Fuhr gave up a big rebound. Heinrich kept his point streak alive at six games.
In the second, the Ice Wolves came out strong after being out shot 19-7 in the first. Anthony Agner-Bouchard cut the North Stars' lead in half when he snapped the puck past Darren Martin's glove hand. LaRonge kept up the pressure during the rest of the period, but Martin was able to keep the lead for the Battlefords.
The lead would not last in the third as the North Stars were caught chasing the puck in their own end. Cole Golka made the Battlefords pay, tipping in a pass from Tyson Valette to tie the game eight minutes in to the period.
Forbes broke the tie 30 seconds later with a slap shot from the right point, putting the North Stars in front for good.
The Battlefords were a man short for the game. Braden Lacoursiere sat out for precautionary reasons after being checked from behind during Wednesday night's game in Flin Flon.
Martin stopped 32 shots en route to the victory and celebrated with a fist pump after time expired. Fuhr took the loss despite making 44 saves.
The North Stars (13-13-0-2) try to make it six in a row at home Saturday night when they take on the Estevan Bruins. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre. The Ice Wolves (11-13-0-0) have lost nine of their last 11 games.
