A dominant effort on the road has put the Battlefords North Stars a win away from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League semifinal.
The North Stars picked up an 8-1 victory Monday night over the Weyburn Red Wings at Crescent Point Place, and now hold a 3-1 advantage in their best-of-seven quarter-final series heading to Game 4 Tuesday night in Weyburn at 7:30 p.m.
“Any team that scores eight goals, especially when you do it in back-to-back games, is a little surprised as you don’t really plan to have that happen,” North Stars head coach and general manager Nate Bedford said.
“Once in awhile, you get rewarded for good work on offence and that’s happened for us here the last two games. That’s good to see, but I still feel like we need to find away to come of the gates harder.”
With the game tied up at one in the first period, the North Stars offence came to life in the second frame as they scored four goals and never looked back.
“In that first period, I felt like we were flat and going through the motions out there,” Bedford said.
“After the intermission, we turned things up. We were more physical and playing with more energy, which is more of that in your face style of game that we have had throughout the season.’
Connor Logan turned in an impressive display on offence as he scored his first career hat trick as a member of the North Stars.
“He was all over the puck tonight and pushing the pace of the play,” Bedford said.
“He also had much more of a leadership role tonight, and I think when he does that he’s more successful for us.”
The top line was clicking once again for the North Stars, as Layne Young had a goal and an assist and Coby Downs dished out two helpers.
Ben Allen also continued his torrid place to start off the post-season as he found the back of the net for his fifth goal in three games.
Bryce Hall, Cody Spagrud and Reed Delainey also lit the lamp for the North Stars, while Ryan Rosenberg had two assists.
At the other end of the ice, Taryn Kotchorek made 29 saves as he received a lot more help from his defence when compared to the first two games of the series.
“Our defence was extremely solid,” Bedford said. “We lost Zach (Nedelec) halfway through the first period with an ankle injury so it was tough to have five guys back there, but they stepped up and our forward did an excellent job of applying pressure.
“Zach’s going to have his ankle x-rayed tonight but I don’t think it’s too serious, however I’m not sure he will be in the lineup tomorrow.
The Red Wings lone goal Monday night came from Cody Chasse in the first period.
After getting the hook in the first game of the series and being benched in favour of Cody Levesque in Game 2, Jake MacLennan was back in goal for the Red Wings Monday as he turned aside 28 shots.
If the North Stars are unable to complete the series sweep Tuesday, they will return to the Civic Centre for the fifth game of the quarter-final battle Thursday night.
The other three SJHL quarter-finals will also resume Tuesday, as the Flin Flon Bombers, Estevan Bruins and Nipawin Hawks hold 2-0 leads over the Notre Dame Hounds, Yorkton Terriers and Humboldt Broncos respectively.
