Jake Erickson and Taylor Reich each scored a shorthanded goal in the first period as the Battlefords North Stars downed the Melville Millionaires 5-1 at the Horizon Credit Union Centre in game four of their SJHL semifinal series.
Battlefords trails the best-of-seven series 3-1. It was Melville's first loss of the playoffs.
The North Stars had a strong start to the first period. They were getting chances against the Millionaires' defence, but were unable to pick up any shots on net.
Battlefords goaltender Michael Gudmandson faced the first real test. He gave up a big rebound to a backhand shot and jumped up to cover the puck before another Melville player could get his stick on it.
With Dillon Forbes in the penalty box for roughing, it was the North Stars who got the best chances while shorthanded. Luke McColgan was sent in on a shorthanded breakaway with Forbes in the box. He deked around Millionaires goalie Isaiah Plett, but his shot hit the post. Erickson followed up the shot and knocked the rebound into the Millionaires' net to give the North Stars a 1-0 lead 8:37 into the period.
The North Stars extended their lead with another shorthanded goal less than two minutes later. Reich streaked into Melville's zone and snapped a puck on net, beating Plett's blocker to put Battlefords up two with 9:35 left in the opening frame.
Ben Greenaway almost set up a chance to put the North Stars up three. His initial shot was stopped, but he followed up the play and jammed at the loose puck. Eventually, he threw the puck back in front of the net, but Brenden Heinrich's shot was blocked.
The Millionaires got a strong chance from Colin Mospanchuk. The Melville forward collected the puck, spun around and snapped the puck on net. Gudmandson was up to the task and made the save.
In the second, Melville almost took advantage of a Tanner Quinn turnover. Quinn passed the puck directly to Millionaires forward Allan Kilback, but Gudmandson made another big save.
Quinn made up for his mistake by giving the North Stars a 3-0 lead. After taking a pass from Forbes, Quinn put a backhand shot past Plett to extend Battlefords' lead 4:25 into the second.
Melville started to apply pressure after the North Stars' third goal. The pressure eventually resulted in a goal for the Millionaires. Gudmandson made the first save on Mospanchuk after a nice move around Forbes, but Lane Harbor was there to shoot the rebound under the North Stars netminder to make it a 3-1 game with 4:22 to play in the second.
The North Stars restored their three-goal lead less than two minutes later. Blake Young found the puck, spun and slid the puck past Plett with 2:37 remaining in the middle frame.
Cameron Blair made it a four-goal game 5:05 into the third period. He snapped a puck under the cross bar that Plett misplayed, giving the North Stars a 5-1 lead. Following the goal, the Millionaires pulled Plett in favour of Richard Palmer. Plett stopped 23 of the 28 shots faced in the game.
The North Stars continued the pressure and Gudmandson made saves when called upon. The physical play between the teams picked up late in the third period with the game decided. Following a scrum, Kendall Fransoo and Tj Constant were given coincidental minors for roughing after the whistle.
Gudmandson made 24 saves to keep the North Stars alive in the series. Palmer stopped all five shots in relief for the Millionaires.
Game five of the series is Friday night at the Civic Centre. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
