The Battlefords North Stars scored twice on the power play en route to a 3-2 win over the Ice Wolves in La Ronge Thursday night. The North Stars have now won five straight games.
It was the final regular season meeting between the two teams. The North Stars won the season series 4-2.
La Ronge came out looking to avenge the previous night's loss, outshooting the North Stars 5-2 early in the first. The North Stars responded with pressure of their own.
Battlefords' effort led to the first goal of the game. Robin Yew forced a turnover in the La Ronge zone while fore-checking. Taylor Reich found the puck, spun around and shot it. Ice Wolves goaltender Dasan Sydora never saw the shot and was out of position as it slid into the net to give Battlefords a 1-0 lead. It was the second consecutive game Reich has scored.
North Stars goaltender Darren Martin kept the lead at one heading into the intermission. On a wrap-around attempt from Ice Wolves defenceman Joren Johnson, Martin dove from post to post to make the save.
With 26 seconds left in the first, Sebastien Beauregard took a hooking penalty that sent the North Stars to the man advantage. Battlefords capitalized 39 seconds into the second period. Dillon Forbes led the rush for the North Stars into the La Ronge zone and protected the puck around the defender. Forbes centred for Nick Fountain, who scored his ninth goal of the year to give Battlefords a two-goal lead. Fountain has a point in every game so far in January.
The Ice Wolves cut into the lead shortly after the North Stars' goal. La Ronge forward Owen LaClare skated across the net before shooting to the opposite side, beating Martin over his glove for his 16th goal of the season.
La Ronge wasn't done there. Martin was unable to cover the puck in front of the net and made a diving attempt to collect it. Ice Wolves forward Kyle Campbell chipped the puck over Martin with his backhand to tie the game at two.
The North Stars used the power play to break the tie. With Johnson in the penalty box for cross checking, Sydor stopped Jake Erikson's point shot and gave up a rebound. Jake McMillen eventually found the puck and poked it past the Ice Wolves' goaltender. It was McMillen's 12th goal of the season and third goal in two nights.
A combination of defence and luck kept the North Stars in the lead. Near the end of the period, there was a scramble in front of the net with Martin down, but the puck slid harmlessly through the crease. Ice Wolves coach Shawn Martin screamed at the referee, saying the puck went in.
Coach Martin wasn't happy about what transpired a short time after. With the puck loose in the crease and the North Stars goaltender down, the play was blown dead by referee Jason Bourdon before an Ice Wolves player tapped the puck home. The puck was visible to the players on the ice and the bench, but not the referee. A good break for the North Stars sent the game to the third period with a 3-2 score.
The first half of the third period was plagued with penalties and other play stoppages. There were four penalties between the two teams in the first four minutes of the period.
The North Stars had the best chance in the first half of the period. Blake Young's wrap-around attempt ended up in front of the net. Luke McColgan, who had just come off the bench, entered the zone with speed and slapped the puck off the cross bar.
Kent Walchuck had a great chance to tie the game for the Ice Wolves. He collected a rebound, but North Stars defenceman Kendall Fransoo blocked his shot from going into the open net. Fransoo came up with another big block early in an Ice Wolves power play, seconds before LaClare was sent off for tripping to end the man advantage.
With 42 seconds left in the third period, Forbes was penalized for interference. The Ice Wolves pulled Sydora, but were unable to hold the zone for an extended period of time before the final horn sounded.
Martin stopped 21 shots to earn his eighth win of the season. It was the first time Martin has played since Dec. 11. Sydora made 39 saves, but was handed his eighth loss of the year for the Ice Wolves (15-18-2-0).
Battlefords (22-16-0-2) are now two points behind the Humboldt Broncos. The North Stars return home Saturday night to take on the Yorkton Terriers. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
