In a game that was similar to their regular season meetings, the Battlefords North Stars and Estevan Bruins engaged in a high-scoring battle to kick off their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League semifinal series Friday at the Civic Centre.
A hat trick by Reed Delainey and a pair of goals from Owen Lamb proved beneficial for the North Stars as they opened their best-of-seven affair with the Bruins with a 7-4 victory.
“You can get caught up a little bit in the four goals that we allowed, but we’re up 1-0 in the series and that’s what is important,” North Stars associate coach Braeden Johnson said. “We’re playing good enough to win and that’s what we are focussed on right now.
“We got off to a nice start to build up that 3-0 lead and then they took it two us there with a couple of quick goals at the end of the first period. Our leadership in the room was key in making sure that we rebounded from that and we took care of things for the remainder of the game.”
An improved second half performance in limiting the Bruins shots on goal helped the North Stars move out to a 6-2 lead, but that lead was cut down to a pair in the final minutes when the Bruins potted a pair of goals in a 38 second span.
Delainey would end any chances of a rally with 16 seconds to go when he scored on an empty net.
“I don’t know if we want to play that way for the rest of the series as Estevan has a lot of guys that can score as well,” Delainey said.
“Going forward, we need to improve how we play on defence. We did a good job of getting the shooting lanes, but you won’t win many games in the playoffs if you give up four goals a night.”
Delainey’s hat trick was the second of his SJHL career, as he previously accomplished that feat on Sept. 18, 2015 in a season opening 6-2 win at home over the Kindersley Klippers.
“It was a good night for our entire line,” said Delainey, who was teamed up with Connor Logan and Jared Blaquiere. “Those two guys were flying around just as much as I was.
“The biggest thing was that we had our feet moving and we made contact with their guys, which gave us the room to use our speed to our advantage.”
After an impressive display in the third period of the series clincher over the Weyburn Red Wings last week, Lamb continued his impressive play Friday as the rookie forward scored twice in the first period.
“Owen’s one of those reliable guys that doesn’t lose many battles,” Johnson said. “He reads the ice well and he set the tone for everyone tonight with his work ethic.”
Layne Young had a three-assist night for the North Stars while Ryan Rosenberg and Coby Downs also found the back of the net.
Downs, who also had an assist in the victory, has 11 points in five playoff games and now leads the entire SJHL in playoff scoring.
Young has 10 points and is tied for second with Adam Dawe and Ben Duperreault of the Notre Dame Hounds.
Taryn Kotchorek moved to 5-0 for the post-season as he made 18 saves.
The Bruins were led on offence by Michael McChesney, as the rookie forward scored a pair of goals and had an assist.
Isaac Embree and Jason Miller also scored for the visitors, while Hayden Guilderson, Zach Goberis and Jake Fletcher all had two assists in the loss.
“We got off to a slow start and we had to play catch up all night, as we were taken off guard by the speed and intensity that the North Stars brought,” Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said.
“I think the guys were expecting things to come easier for them, and that’s not going to happen when you play one of the best teams in the league. Their offence is pretty deadly and we answered the bell a little bit, but they kept coming at us all night long.”
Nathan Alalouf was impressive in goal for the Bruins as he made 48 saves in the defeat.
“It’s not very often when say that your goalie was one of your best players in a game where you allow seven goals,” Lewgood said.
“Nathan’s been steady for us all playoffs. He’s been making a lot of big saves, especially on plays where you don’t expect him to make the stop, and you have to like that from your goalie.”
Both sides will resume their series tomorrow at the Civic Centre for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
The other semifinal in the SJHL began Friday in Flin Flon as the Nipawin Hawks picked up a 2-1 win over the Flin Flon Bombers at the Whitney Forum.
Grant Baetsen scored the game-winning goal with 2:14 left in the third period, while Kristian Stead made 37 saves to earn first star honours.
Baetsen also had an assist on Keegan Kjargaard’s goal in the opening frame.
Zac Robidoux made 40 saves in the loss for the Bombers, who got their lone goal in the second period from Eric Sinclair.
The second game in that series will take place Saturday in Nipawin.
