North Stars squeak out game 1 win over Weyburn

A quick start is what allowed the North Stars to get out to that lead in the first place, which started with a Keaton Holinaty power play goal just a minute and a half into the game. Weyburn’s Aiden Wagner tied it up midway through the first but Ben Allen responded quickly for the North Stars, just 1:09 after the game was tied, when he took a pass from Coby Downs coming down the wing, cut to the net, and chipped one over the blocker of 6’8″ goaltender Jake MacLennan to give Battlefords’ back the lead.

Troy Gerein tipped in a Ryan Rosenberg shot just 2:36 into the middle frame, and Allen would then score his second of the game when Rosenberg jumped up into the play and fed Allen a perfect cross-ice pass to make the score 4-1.

With that fourth goal, the North Stars chased MacLennan from the net, as rookie Cody Levesque, who had yet to play a minute of SJHL hockey, came in relief. Levesque finished the night with 16 saves on 16 shots.

Despite the lead, there was still half a game to be played and Battlefords’ allowed the visitors to get back into it.

One of those reasons was discipline, as Weyburn had six power play opportunities, compared to just two for the North Stars.

“You look at the penalties we took and they were lazy and soft and stupid,” Bedford said. “It’s a playoff game. Stick penalties, unless it’s by accident, which I’m sure it is, but you’ve got to be cognisant of the fact that putting our team shorthanded in a playoff game better be worth it. The calls were right, there’s no question about that. We just didn’t do a good enough job of protecting our sticks and keeping them down.”

Tyran Brown’s goal got the visitors back into it, when he spun and fired one from the low slot past Taryn Kotchorek to make it a 4-2 game before the second intermission.

In the third, 5’8″ Connor Burk ripped a hard shot through a number of screens and past the blocker of Kotchorek to make it a one-goal game. It was also a power play goal.

“[When we were ahead] I just thought we got lazy and a little bit complacent,” Bedford said. “That’s my fault. I think I was trying to have a little bit too much fun and was a little bit too loose but we’ll be a little bit different tomorrow.”

It wasn’t all bad, however.

“I thought our neutral zone was good,” Bedford said. “I thought we had guys coming back with speed and I think our forwards did a real good job.”

And the fact that they chased MacLennan from the net was a big positive, considering the last couple times these teams met the North Stars had tons of trouble just getting pucks to the net.

“There were times where we had shots blocked but nothing compared to what we’ve seen in the past against these guys so I think we’ve improved [there],” Bedford said. “I was really happy with that part of our game. I don’t think we were perfect but if we build on that next game, we’ll be really happy.”

Taryn Kotchorek finished with 26 saves on 29 shots to get his first career playoff win.

Bedford wouldn’t divulge whether Kotchorek would start again on Saturday, as all season long he has alternated goalies regardless of the result. There’s a possiblity that changes come playoff time, but it remains to be seen.

Puck drop on Saturday is 7:30 p.m., with the Ultra Print pre-game show on 1050 CJNB/CJNS getting underway at 7:15 p.m.

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

@NathanKanter11

by Nathan Kanter

North Stars squeak out game 1 win over Weyburn

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