Thursday night the AAA Stars had yet another opportunity to help solidify a playoff spot clashing against a team just three points behind them in the standings.
The Beardy’s Blackhawks were coming off a 9-3 loss at the hands of the Tisdale Trojans while the Stars looked to bounce back after splitting their series in Notre Dame.
The AAA Stars were able to hold off a late rally in the third, winning 5-4 and seven of nine in January. The two points were big, bringing them just three points away to the sixth spot in the SMAAAHL.
Rookie Shaemus McLeod stood tall in net early on for Beardy’s, sprawling to stop a quality chance on the doorstep from Keelan Saworski.
Edmonton Oil Kings prospect Lance Alm was equal to the task in the first, coming out of his net to stop Tian Rask who was left wide open in the slot.
Neither team was able to solve the netminders in the opening frame in what was an even game when it came to puck possession. Shots were 14-13 Stars.
The Stars found the back of the net midway through the second after a crisp outlet pass in the neutral zone from Luke Reid sprung Kenzie Arnold for a partial breakaway. Busting down the left wing Arnold transitioned the puck to his backhand before beating McLeod far side and over the blocker for his fourth of the season.
A strong penalty kill led to a strong power play unit. After killing off their fifth penalty of the game the Stars found themselves on the man advantage, and would make the most of their opportunity. Quality puck movement led to their second goal of the game. First it was rookie Kenzie Arnold finding Jayden Nachtegaele on the left hashmark, then it was the forward hitting a wide open Tanner Brewster in the slot. Staring at an open cage, Brewster made no mistake snapping his 15th of the season into the back of the net, giving the black and white a two-goal lead.
Special teams continued to be the difference as the Stars tallied another power play mark late in the middle stanza. Owen Lamb found Reid before snapping a shot to the front of the net, where it found the stick of Saworski, deflecting home is 17th of the campaign with two seconds left.
Beardy’s wouldn’t back down in the third. Jared Hamm kicked off the scoring after dancing around the last defender to send himself on a breakaway. A nice forehand, backhand move later the score was 3-1, sliding the puck through the five-hole of Alm.
The Blackhawks continued their offensive flurry, scoring just 20 seconds later. Hamm registered the assist this time, making the initial shot while Jordan Unger deflected it home for his 12th of the campaign.
The black and white kept applying the pressure, restoring their two-goal lead after Lamb found Saworski in the slot for his second of the game. Lamb also registered his second helper on the goal, making it 4-2.
The Stars all but put the game away with 11 minutes to play in the final frame. Tyson Meyers corralled the puck and busted down the right wing. After putting a move on the defence deep in the Blackhawks zone, he found Jordan Mish on the left crease, beating the left pad of McLeod and giving the Battlefords a three-goal advantage.
Beardy’s made it a one-goal game late in the final frame with a goal from Clayton McKenzie and Hamm’s second of the tilt, but the Stars held on.
Alm made 24 saves in the winning effort.
The power play unit had a solid night for the Battlefords, scoring twice on six attempts.
On deck is a Sunday matinee game against the Notre Dame Argos at the Civic Centre. Puck drop is 2 p.m.
