Cole Porter scored the game-winning goal 3:01 into overtime as the La Ronge Ice Wolves beat the Battlefords North Stars 4-3 Tuesday night at the Civic Centre.
With the loss, the North Stars have yet to win a game on home ice.
The North Stars came out flying in the first period, applying pressure for most of the game's opening moments. The pressure was rewarded with the game's opening goal. Brenden Heinrich took a shot from the slot that was deflected by the stick of an Ice Wolves defenceman. The puck went to Jake McMillen at the side of the La Ronge net, who tapped it into the net for a 1-0 North Stars lead. It was McMillen's second goal of the season.
McMillen almost had his second of the game after a nice move in the offensive zone. He took a pass up the middle of the ice from Heinrich and cut to the centre of the zone. His shot was redirected by La Ronge goaltender Luke Grassl into the mesh at the end of the rink.
Midway through the first, the North Stars found themselves shorthanded after Adam Smith was given two minutes for roughing and an additional two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. On the ensuing power play, La Ronge forward Colby Daniels set up Connor Kortko with a one-timer from the right faceoff circle that beat North Stars goalie Spencer Tremblay. Kortko's fifth goal of the year tied the game at one with 8:56 to play in the opening period.
Battlefords took another penalty late in the first, but it was the North Stars that had the best chance of the man-advantage. Matthew Havens stole the puck and had a breakaway chance. He deked to his backhand, but was stopped by Grassl. Havens found the rebound and made a centring pass to Heinrich. Grassl slid over and stacked his pads to rob Heinrich of a sure goal.
Less than a minute into the second period, Havens was sent off for hooking. Just after the penalty expired, La Ronge defenceman Dave Randall's one-timer from the left faceoff circle beat Tremblay to put the Ice Wolves up 2-1 2:52 into the frame. It was Randall's third goal this season.
Tremblay kept the North Stars in it for most of the second period with big saves. With the North Stars shorthanded, Tremblay stopped the initial shot from Kyler Wilkinson. Kyle Campbell picked up the rebound in front of the net, spun and tried to slide the puck over the line, but Tremblay got his stick down to make the save.
Later in the second with the North Stars on the power play, Reed Delainey turned the puck over to Joel Blacquiere at the North Stars' blue line. Blacquiere broke in alone on net, but Tremblay stayed with the Ice Wolves forward's deke to make the save.
On the same power play, Nick Fountain tied the game with his third goal of the season. Fountain started the play by skating the puck into the Ice Wolves' zone and dumping it into the corner. Jordan Townsend recovered the puck behind the net and passed it in front to Fountain, who snapped it past Grassl's glove. The goal tied the game at two with 5:48 left in the period.
In the third period, the Ice Wolves almost regained the lead. A North Stars turnover set up Porter in the attacking zone. His shot trickled past Tremblay, but Battlefords defenceman Robin Yew cleared the puck out of the crease to save the goal.
Regan Yew had a chance to give the North Stars a lead shortly after. He recovered a lose puck in the North Stars' zone and, due to the Ice Wolves' defencemen pinching, had a breakaway from centre ice. Yew snapped the puck on Grassl, but the goalie made the save with his right shoulder.
The Ice Wolves broke the deadlock with 8:04 to play on a penalty shot. Jared Iron was sprung on a breakaway after falling at the North Stars' blue line. He skated in on Tremblay before Michael Statchuk slashed the Ice Wolves forward. On the penalty shot, Iron skated slowly into the zone and snapped it under Tremblay's blocker to put La Ronge up 3-2.
Less than three minutes later, the North Stars re-tied the game late in a power play. After a La Ronge defenceman overskated the puck, Baxter Kanter picked it up and his shot was stopped by Grassl, but Smith was on the opposite post. He gathered the puck and lifted it over the sprawling La Ronge netminder for Smith's first goal of the season to tie the game at three with 5:46 left.
There was no more scoring in regulation, forcing the North Stars to overtime for the seventh time in 10 games.
In the extra frame, the North Stars were given a player after Randall was whistled for holding. Battlefords had chances to end the game, but Grassl was equal to the challenge as the Ice Wolves killed of the penalty.
Shortly after, the North Stars were whistled for icing. Off the ensuing scrambled faceoff, Porter picked up a loose puck at the side of the North Stars' net. He caught Tremblay leaning to the left post and tucked the puck inside the right post to give the Ice Wolves a 4-3 win.
Grassl made 38 saves in his second win of the season for La Ronge. Tremblay stopped 25 shots en route to his fourth loss of the year.
The North Stars (5-2-3-0) will try to get in the win column at home Friday night against the Nipawin Hawks. Puck drop at the Civic Centre is 7:30 p.m. Battlefords plays again Saturday night when they welcome the Estevan Bruins into town for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff.
