It had to end sometime.
Tyler Fuhr stopped 35 of 36 shots as the La Ronge Ice Wolves ended Battlefords' eight-game winning streak by beating the North Stars 2-1 at the Civic Centre Sunday night.
The North Stars (16-14-0-2) also had their run of 10 straight games with a point stopped.
Battlefords had chances in the first period to break the game open. Early in the first, Igor Leonenko lost control of the puck on a breakaway attempt. The North Stars kept buzzing around the net, forcing Fuhr to make a couple of quality saves to keep his team in the game.
In the second, the North Stars continued to apply pressure to the Ice Wolves. Battlefords had multiple chances on a power play midway through the period, but did not find the back of the net.
There was a scary moment for the North Stars in the second stanza. Leonenko got tangled up with an Ice Wolves defender behind the net and stayed down on the ice for an extended period of time. He was helped off the ice by teammates and did not put pressure on his right leg on his way to the locker room. He did not return.
Tensions boiled over near the end of the second. North Stars' forward Austin Evans dropped the gloves with Ice Wolves' defenseman Tanner Clark as play left the La Ronge zone. Clark got the advantage with a quick takedown while landing a couple of punches.
Battlefords got on the board early in the third period on the power play. With Eric Macoretta in the box for slashing, the North Stars won the ensuing face off and worked the puck to Latrell Charleson who snapped it past Fuhr from the point.
The Ice Wolves tied the game over two minutes later. North Stars' goalie Michael Gudmandson fanned on a shot from the point. The puck found its way to the front of the net and Michael Sagen buried it during the scramble.
La Ronge took the lead two minutes later on a weird bounce. Macoretta's shot went wide and bounced off the end boards. The puck deflected off of a sprawled Gudmandson and crossed the goal line.
The North Stars applied pressure, but were unable to tie the game during the final moments. Battlefords had a great chance on a loose puck in front of the net. No North Stars player was able to get his stick on the puck before time expired.
Gudmandson made 28 saves in a losing effort for the North Stars. It was his first loss in his time with Battlefords.
La Ronge (13-14-1-0) heads home for a Tuesday night game against Nipawin.
Battlefords had an impressive winning streak through the month of November. The team last lost Nov. 16 in a shootout in Humboldt against the Broncos. Their last regulation loss was Nov. 9 in Nipawin.
During the streak, the North Stars were given strong goaltending from Gudmandson and Darren Martin. Battlefords only allowed more than three goals twice during the stretch.
Battlefords outscored their opponents 29-16 during the streak.
Only two of the eight games went beyond regulation. Both times ended with a shootout.
The streak made an impact in the standings for the North Stars. They sit third in the Kramer division with 34 points, five points behind first place Humboldt.
Battlefords are fifth in league standings, eight points behind the first place Yorkton Terriers. The North Stars' aim to start a new streak Wednesday night. They play at home against the Melfort Mustangs at the Civic Centre. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
