Stars' forward MacGregor Sinclair, seen here chatting with Hounds' defenseman Charles Martin in a prominent match-up sure to be seen tonight at the Civic Centre. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff) : Martin Martinson

By Martin Martinson

Stars return home

Stars return home with chance to snag division lead

Mar 1, 2019 | 3:56 PM

With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Battlefords North Stars return home for just the third time in 2019 to take on the division-rival Notre Dame Hounds at the NB Civic Centre.

Holding a 32-13-10 record through 55 games, the North Stars sit second in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division with 74 points. The Stars have been amongst the hottest teams in the league as of late, having won eight of their last 10, while picking up 17 of a possible 20 points in the process.

In other league action Friday, the Kindersley Klippers (75 points) play host to the Humboldt Broncos (72 points) in Kindersley.

With a North Stars’ victory tonight, and a Kindersley loss, the Stars can leapfrog the Klippers for top spot in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division.

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The Stars’ opposition tonight, the Notre Dame Hounds, are fourth in the division at 25-21-10, good for 60 points.

Friday night will mark the second matchup between the Stars and Hounds in under a week, as the teams also met last Sun., Feb. 24 in Wilcox; a 6-5 shootout win for the North Stars.

The Hounds’ top line of Jakob Breault, along with Marshall Wilton and Jarrett Penner combined for 12 points in Sunday’s game with at least a single member of the trio factoring in on all five goals the Hounds produced on the night.

Stars’ rearguard Cody Spagrud, who was recently named SJHL Top Defenseman for the 2018-19 season, will see the primary matchup duties against the Hounds’ top line this evening.

Embodying a powerful stride and textbook positioning, coupled with a nearly eerie ability to read the play and make the right decision with the puck on his stick; Spagurd has been the man to draw the top matchup for the Stars on a nightly basis this year.

The captain also provides an offensive catalyst for the Battlefords, as Spagurd’s 10 goals and 41 points are fourth amongst all defenseman in scoring this season.

Up front, Owen Lamb continues to impress for the North Stars, spearheading the team’s success as of late. The North Battleford hometown product scored the game winner for his team in all three games last weekend.

Friday, Lamb scored what would serve as the deciding goal in a 5-1 Stars’ win over Weyburn, before then following up the performance with back-to-back shootout winners over Estevan Saturday and Notre Dame Sunday.

Lamb has combined with linemates, MacGregor Sinclair and Braydon Buziak to form one of the truly elite offensive lines in the league.

In 10 games together through the month of February, the trio combined for 17 goals, 49 points. The three will aim to keep their hot play of late rolling through the final few games of the regular season and into the playoffs.

North Stars’ goalie Chad Duran will return to action tonight for the first time since Feb. 8. Duran had been sidelined with concussion-like symptoms. With five wins in seven games in a Stars’ uniform, Duran has posted a 1.96 goals-against average and .924 save percentage since joining the Battlefords.

After Riley Kohonick got the start Sunday against the Stars, and once again on Tuesday against Melfort; Hounds netminder, Matt Lukacs is expected to get the nod this evening. Lukacs, a 21-year-old from Coalhurst, Alta., has won six of his eight starts this season, while posting a 2.05 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.

Fans can catch the NAPA North Stars hockey broadcast on 1050 CJNB beginning with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup at a glance

Forwards:

B. Buziak, M. Sinclair, O. Lamb

E. Loon-Stewardson, Q. Loon-Stewardson, R. Gil

A. Becker, B. Gammer, D. Esau

K. Boser, D. Heino, R. Doig

Defensemen:

N. Form, C. Spagrud

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

A. Shumanski, G. Johnson

Goaltenders:

C. Duran

J. Grzybowski

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1