Stars aim to keep rolling as series shifts to Flin Flon for Game 3

The Bombers had six players score 50-plus points this season, tied with Yorkton for most in the league this year.

Of those six players, Nate Hooper received 87 points, Brandson Hein (78), Cade Kowalski (66), Chrystopher Collin (54), Daylan Marchi (52) and Caleb Moretz (51). All but one averaged at least point-per-game over the course of the regular season. The lone exception, Marchi, scored his 52 points in 57 games played.

More impressive yet, is that the Bombers also had an additional two players in Donavan Houle-Villeneuve and defenceman Calvon Boots, who would have easily eclipsed the 50-point mark as well if not for missed games. Houle-Villeneuve scored 46 points in 51 games, while Boots scored 42 in 44.

Through the first two games of their quarter-final series with the Stars, those eight players have combined for one total point so far. Kowalski picked up the lone assist on his team’s only goal scored through the first two games, tallied by depth winger, Caleb Franklin.

The Stars, meanwhile, have relied upon a full team effort offensively with Braydon Buziak producing for the top line with a goal in game two, after each of the Loon-Stewardson’s chipped in with a goal-apiece for the second line in the opening game.

Shinning brightest for the Stars, however, has been the team’s fourth line. In addition to their physicality and penchant for getting under the skin of their opposition, the team’s Boser, Heino, Doig trio brought the offensive punch as well.

Kaden Boser, who had four goals in 41 games during the regular season leads the Stars with two goals – both game-winners – in each of the first two games.

On the defensive side of the puck, three rookie blue liners have played in each of the first two games for the Battlefords, each making a notable impact early in this first round.

Noah Form alongside Cody Spagrud on the top pair, has looked like a veteran the last couple of months, continuing that theme into the playoffs. Playing his shutdown defensive game to a tee using his long, calculated reach and lateral mobility to stay in apt position defensively against the speedy and shifty Bombers’ forwards.

Seth Summers, with his usual partner on the backend, Matthew Fletcher, has also been a force to be reckoned with using his sublime skating stride to join the play, and his physical abrasiveness to counteract the Flin Flon cycle game.

Ryan Granville has been the constant on the team’s third pairing, playing game two beside Garrett Johnson after his partner to start the series, Austin Shumanski, missed time in the second game due to a one-game suspension handed out in the opener.

Granville made perhaps the biggest introduction to the Bombers in game one, when the Sherwood Park, Alta., product threw down the Bombers’ Chrystopher Collin on an attempted move to the front of the Stars’ goal early in the game.

Between the pipes, Battlefords’ goaltender, Joel Grzybowski has been superb throughout, no doubt his team’s MVP through the first two contests. The 19-year-old has stopped 79 of the 80 total Bombers’ shots he’s faced this postseason.

Grzybowski owns a 0.46 goals-against average and .988 save percentage so far in the series.

At the other end, Bombers’ goalie Gabriel Waked stopped 33 of the 35 shots he faced in game two, and has a .919 save percentage on the series.

The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 6 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 6:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars aim to keep rolling as series shifts to Flin Flon for Game 3

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