The Battlefords Stars came up short of the SMAAAHL championship.
The Stars dropped game four of the best-of-five series 3-2 to the Notre Dame Argos at the Civic Centre Saturday afternoon, giving the Argos a 3-1 series win.
It was a tight series, which saw three of the four games decided by one goal.
Battlefords started Michael Korol, Logan Nachtegaele and Troy Gerein to give the team a physical presence at puck drop. The three forwards played their part, hitting everything in sight on their first shift.
Stars goaltender Ryan Rewerts made his first start of the playoffs with his team facing elimination and was tested early in the game. He made a couple of reaction saves to get into the game at the beginning of the period.
Later in the first, Josh Bly had the puck and a lane towards the Notre Dame net. Argos defenceman Evan Werle caught up to Bly and knocked it off his stick. A scramble in front also led to a good scoring chance for the Stars. Korol, Nachtegaele and Gerein were all trying to jam the puck past, but could not beat Argos goalie Dylan Ferguson.
The Stars were awarded the game's first power play after Layne Young was held up after getting by Argos defenceman Alex McGovern. Battlefords took advantage on the power play. Alex Pernitsky had his initial shot blocked. He got the puck back and shot again, but it was stopped by Ferguson. Spencer Bast was at the side of the net and knocked in the rebound to give the Stars a 1-0 lead 6:57 into the first.
Battlefords almost extended their lead right after the goal. Korol broke into the Argos' zone. His wrist shot got by Ferguson's blocker, but it was stopped by the right post.
Notre Dame started to apply pressure with power plays late in the first. Dillon Dube entered the Stars' zone on a rush and deked around a Battlefords defenceman. He cut to the centre of the zone and aimed his show low, but Rewerts made a pad save. The Stars goaltender was forced to make multiple saves on the power play, but kept the lead for Battlefords.
The Argos solved Rewerts early in the second period on a power play. After peppering Rewerts with shots, Elijah Francis gained the zone on the left wing and snapped the puck over Rewert's glove on the Argos' 19th shot of the game 3:36 into the second to tie the game.
Battlefords thought they broke the tie shortly after the goal. Josh LaFramboise had his shot stopped and Bast backhanded the rebound wide. They followed up on the play and brought the puck back in front of the net and tried to jam it past Ferguson. The Stars believed they got it past the goal line. The referees gathered to talk, eventually getting an opinion from the goal judge. After deliberating, the referee confirmed the save to keep it a 1-1 game.
Later, Young came in on a partial breakaway. Before he could get a shot off, Ferguson dove ahead with a poke check and knocked the puck off Young's stick.
Young put the Stars ahead late in the second. LaFramboise entered the zone by tipping the puck around an Argos' defenceman at the blue line, setting up a two-on-one with Young. LaFramboise stopped and passed to Young, whose first shot was turned away. Young followed up and tucked the rebound under the cross bar to give the Stars a 2-1 lead with 2:27 remaining. It was Young's first of the playoffs.
The lead did not last long as the Argos tied the game 1:16 into the third. Kaden Elder made a cross-crease pass to Taylor Ross, who redirected it over a sprawling Rewerts to tie the game at two.
Young had a chance to break the tie after having his first shot blocked. He got the rebound and snapped a puck that was destined for the top corner. Ferguson threw up his blocker and knocked it into the corner.
Ferguson made another save that preserved the tie. LaFramboise cut into the centre of the zone around a defender and snapped the puck on net. Ferguson flashed the leather and made a great save with this catcher.
Notre Dame took the lead for good with 8:52 to play. Colin Burston's wrist shot from the point hit Argos captain Jack Flaman in front of the net, which deflected the puck past Rewerts.
The Stars pulled their goalie with a minute left in the game, but had a hard time keeping the puck in Notre Dame's zone to set up a fore check.
The Argos threw their gloves, sticks and helmets in the air as they rushed to celebrate with Ferguson after the final buzzer sounded.
Ferguson made 28 saves in the championship-clinching win for the Argos. Rewerts was stellar in defeat, stopping 35 shots after making his first start since Feb. 23.
