Michael Statchuk scored 1:46 into overtime to give the Battlefords North Stars a 4-3 win over the Ice Wolves in La Ronge Friday night.
The North Stars have won four straight games. Three of those four have come in overtime or a shootout.
The Ice Wolves got on the board early in the first period. Jared Iron's first goal of the season beat North Stars goaltender Spencer Tremblay. Kyle Campbell and Cole Porter registered assists.
Jackson Bond responded with this first goal as a North Star five minutes later when he put the puck past La Ronge goalie Kris Joyce. Assists were awarded to Jordan Townsend and Nick Fountain.
La Ronge regained their one-goal lead with 4:55 left to play in the opening frame. Matthew Painchaud tallied his first goal of the year with assists from Caley Bjork and Kyle Lamont to put the Ice Wolves up 2-1.
The Ice Wolves extended their lead to two on the power play in the second period. Dave Randall scored his second on the campaign from Bjork and Painchaud 6:34 into the frame.
The North Stars answered back with two goals in less than four minutes. Brady O'Sullivan scored his third goal of the season with 8:10 to go in the frame. Reed Delainey and Matthew Saharchuk were given assists. Then, with 4:25 to play, Fountain got his first goal of the season to tie the game at three. Townsend and Bond picked up assists on Fountain's goal.
It was a scoreless third period. Tremblay stopped nine shots, while Joyce made 13 saves.
In the overtime period, Statchuk's overtime winner was his second goal of the season. Townsend recorded his third assist of the night to set it up. The North Stars registered the only two shots on goal in the extra frame.
Tremblay made 34 saves while picking up his third win of the season. Joyce stopped 25 shots for his second loss of the year.
The North Stars (4-1-1-0) will attempt to keep their momentum going Tuesday night when they welcome the Kindersley Klippers (2-0-0-1) into the Civic Centre. It will be just the second home game for the North Stars in the first three weeks of the SJHL schedule. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
