"We wanted to try to go for double digit victories of course," said Battlefords Stars head coach Lorne Neilsen after a 7-2 loss to the Saskatoon Blazers Feb. 9. "So we need three."
Goaltender Blair Mahon did what he could to give his team a chance to win, as he made 42 saves while the Stars fell 5-4 in overtime Wednesday.
Saskatoon skated to an early lead with a Carson Stadnyk goal 17 seconds into the action. Four minutes later, Austin Glover converted on a backdoor pass to put the Contacts up 2-0.
The Stars' Kihisis Derocher capitalized late in the period with his 17th goal of the season on a beautiful backhand. Blake Young and Carter Danczak drew assists on the goal.
In the second period, Mahon made several good saves and his team scored three goals in front of him to take a 4-3 lead into the third period.
Regan Yew scored his 10th of the season after Robin Yew rushed the puck into the Contacts' zone and took it to the net, creating a rebound.
Ross Knidy answered for the Contacts in the second period with a shot that beat Mahon.
Stars' forward Young scored his 13th goal of the season later in the second period on a backhand from the slot. Derocher earned the lone assist.
Regan Yew scored his second of the game after he and Jordaan Braun outworked the Contacts' defence along the end boards and he capitalized once the puck game loose to the front of the net.
The Contacts put 16 shots at Mahon in the third period, but it wasn't until a late power play and a delayed penalty signalled against the Stars that the Contacts finally tied the game. Colby Harmsworth fired a shot off the crossbar and in with 1:45 left to tie the game at 4-4.
In overtime, after controlling the majority of the play, the Contacts capitalized on a backdoor pass. Vukie Mpofu streaked in from the point and tapped in a backdoor pass for the win.
It was the second time this season the last place Stars have taken the first place Contacts to overtime. The last time ended in a 5-5 tie. Rylan Parenteau was in net for the Contacts, as he earned his 10th win of the season and third against the Stars this season after making 19 saves Wednesday.
In the 7-2 loss to the Blazers, Derocher and Zachary Nedelec were the Stars' goal scorers in a penalty-filled game. Nedelec scored his first goal of the season and, with that goal, every player on the Stars roster has found the back of the net this season.
The Stars will end their season with home games Saturday and Sunday against the Notre Dame Hounds.
