Somewhere in the midst of the North Stars' celebratory swarm, pictured here, is Kaden Boser who scored his second game winner in two nights to help lead his team to a 2-0 series lead. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Boser seals overtime thriller

Stars top Bombers in OT thriller to take 2-0 series lead

Mar 17, 2019 | 12:54 AM

The Battlefords North Stars defeated the Flin Flon Bombers 2-1 Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in their first round best-of-seven series with the Bombers at the NB Civic Centre.

Through the opening two games of the series, the Battlefords have held the league’s third-ranked offense, in Flin Flon, which averaged over four goals per-game through the regular season, to just a single goal through seven periods of play.

The Stars’ efforts defensively have been spearheaded by goalie, Joel Grzybowski.

Gryzbowski was spectacular again Saturday, following up a 37 save shutout performance Friday in Game 1, with 42 saves on 43 shots in Game 2. The 19-year-old Hafford product has now stopped 79 of 80 total shots this series.

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Braydon Buziak scored his first of the postseason to make it 1-0 on a gorgeous move just under eight minutes into the first period.

Driving wide on the defenseman, only to cut out in front of the Flin Flon goal, Buziak reached around the sprawled Bombers’ netminder, Gabriel Waked to give his team the 1-0 advantage.

Much like Game 1, the North Stars took a 1-0 lead to the first intermission.

In the second frame, Caleb Franklin tied things up on his first of the series and second of the playoffs, as the forward had also picked up a goal against Weyburn prior in the Survivor Series.

Franklin’s tally came off a nice play by former Red Wing, Cade Kowalski, who upon picking up the puck in the neutral zone, strode in with a head of steam, only to find Franklin in the high-slot for a quick one-timer over the glove of the Stars’ goalie.

The third period saw no goals to report, meaning Game 2 was headed to overtime.

In the extra frame, the North Stars’ power play would finally break through at just the right time, thanks to rookie forward, Kaden Boser.

With Calvon Boots in the box serving a double-minor for high-sticking Regan Doig, Boser’s goal came at the tail end of the man advantage, on a simple shot on goal from just inside the zone.

Picking up the puck in the neutral zone and rumbling in over the Flin Flon blue line on the attack, Boser wristed a simple shot high to the short-side. Somehow, off the shot, the puck eluded the Bombers’ goalie, Waked, finding the twine to induce copious amounts of energy and jubilation in the crowd, and on the ice alike.

Upon watching the puck hit paydirt, Boser was hit by a swarm of teammates celebrating the reality of a two-games-to-none series lead.

Boser’s goal was the Battlefords’ first power play goal of the series. The goal came on their 11^th man-advantage opportunity of the series, and 6^th of the game.

Boser, who had four goals in 41 games over the regular season has now scored the game winning goal in each of his first two career playoff games in the SJHL.

The series will now shift to Flin Flon for back-to-backs Tuesday and Wednesday for Games 3 & 4.

Because the game times will be 7:30 local starts, the Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 6 p.m. with puck drop at 6:30 p.m. on 1050 CJNB on the NAPA North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

Scoring summery

First period:

7:58 BAT Braydon Buziak (1) ASST: None

Second period:

14:26 FF Caleb Franklin (2) ASST: Cade Kowalski (4)

Third period:

None

Overtime:

11:01 BAT Kaden Boser (2) ASST: None (PP)

2-1 Stars, the Final.

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1