The Battlefords North Stars find themselves in a hole following Saturday night's game two of their SJHL semifinal.
The Melville Millionaires edged the North Stars 2-1 at the Civic Centre behind a 32 save performance by goaltender Isaiah Plett.
Melville leads the best-of-seven series 2-0 as they return home for games three and four. North Stars head coach Kevin Hasselberg said his team has to put these games behind them.
"It's the first to four," said Hasselberg. "[We need to] rely on our strengths and come out with a good attitude and positive mindset and have fun."
The first quality chance of the game came from North Stars captain Kyle Schmidt. He played the puck around the Melville defenceman at the blue line, regained control and snapped it on net. Plett was there and turned the puck away with his left shoulder.
Later in the first, Jake McMillen generated a chance with a rush on the power play. As Plett went down to make a save, McMillen tried to flip the puck over the sprawled goalie. However, the puck was sent over the empty net.
The Millionaires first great chance came following a slap shot from Ashton Clark. North Stars netminder Michael Gudmandson made the save with his pad, but he gave up a big rebound. It was sliding to Ben Mack, but Battlefords defenceman Dillon Forbes swiped the puck away.
With the North Stars shorthanded, the Millionaires almost opened the scoring. Brady Constant threw the puck in front of the net from the corner, but Colin Mospanchuk was not able to settle a bouncing puck down before the North Stars' defence collapsed on the crease.
Early in the second, Gudmandson kept the game tied. He stretched from the right to the left post to stop Mospanchuk as the Millionaires forward tried to jam the puck past Gudmandson's pad.
Melville got on the board first 2:27 into the second. After a scramble in front of the net, the puck slid into the slot. Sam Williams pounced on the loose puck and snapped a shot on net. It found its way through traffic and underneath Gudmandson to put the Millionaires up 1-0.
The Millionaires took three penalties in five minutes following the goal, providing the North Stars with opportunities to tie the game. In the first power play, Cameron Blair cut across the net and passed back to Blake Young, who was tripped up. Blair pounced on the puck, but his shot hit Young as he came across the front of the net.
Later, with a scrum in front of the net, a loose puck slid out to the slot. Jack Petrino jumped on the puck, but snapped it wide of the open net with Plett down.
The North Stars tied the game early in the third period. Luke McColgan won a faceoff back to Charleson. He snapped a shot towards the net and McMillen redirected the puck past Plett 1:22 into the period to tie the game at one.
Battlefords kept the pressure up to try to take the lead. Young stole the puck in the Millionaires' zone and had free space. He skated towards the net, but Plett dove and poked the puck off of Young's stick.
Later, Tanner Quinn pounced on a Melville turnover. He stopped and passed it to Petrino, who was skating towards the net. Petrino snapped a shot towards the net, but it missed high.
The Millionaires took the lead with 5:28 left to play. Gudmandson made the first save on a two-on-one rush. However, he gave up a rebound before a back-checking Brenden Heinrich fell on top of his goalie. Melville defenceman Alex Brandrup followed up the play and netted the puck to put the Millionaires up 2-1.
Plett shut the door for the remaining five minutes to seal the game for Melville, adding to his eight saves in the period. Gudmandson was good in the loss, stopping 21 of 23 shots.
Despite only scoring two goals in the first two games of the series, Hasselberg had simple advice to finding the back of the net again.
"Calm down, relax and compose ourselves."
Game three and four of the series are Tuesday and Wednesday night in Melville.
