Bombers pull even in series with Stars, force Game 7

North Stars’ forward, Austin Becker opened the scoring just under four minutes into the first period to make it 1-0 Stars early.

Coming on the power play, Becker’s goal served as his first of the playoffs, and first career postseason goal in the SJHL.

The Stars held the lead until late in the opening period, when Alec Cokely scored his first of the series and second of the playoffs on a scramble play just in front of the Battlefords’ goalmouth to tie things up, 1-1 with just three minutes to go in the first.

Not done there, the Bombers would take just over a minute to strike once again, this time off the stick of Caleb Franklin.

Almost a carbon copy of the Bombers’ first goal, Franklin’s second of the series and third of the postseason was once again a tight pass in front off a scramble play, leading to a complete reversal in leads, with the Bombers now holding the edge, 2-1. Flin Flon would take their advantage to the intermission.

The second period is when things really got wild, with an all-out scoring serge to start the middle frame. The Stars kicked off the period right from the get-go showing excellent bounce-back ability, as it took just 15 seconds for team captain, Cody Spagrud to get in on the scoring action. Spagrud’s first of the playoffs was a power play marker from the point, making it 2-2.

Stars’ captain Cody Spagrud notched his first goal of the postseason Sunday, scoring off a drive from the blue line to tie the game just 15 seconds into the middle period. Spagrud has been a force all series long, playing over 46 minutes Friday in Game 5’s triple OT thriller. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Then, just a minute-and-a-half later, Seth Summers also jumped aboard the scoring parade and tallied his first of the playoffs off a shot from distance as well and just like that, it was 3-2 Stars.

Stars’ blue liner, Seth Summers scored his first playoff goal of his SJHL career Sunday, becoming the fifth different Stars defenseman to score in the series. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Just 20-odd seconds after the Battlefords took the lead, the Bombers answered back with one of their own, as defenseman Jack Mitchell notched his first of the postseason on a shot through traffic from the blue line. Again, we were all knotted up, 3-3 this time.

Just when it looked like things might be slowing down a bit and settling in, the North Stars would strike again, this time on the strength of Brett Gammer’s first career playoff goal.

Picking up a stretch pass from defenseman Garrett Johnson, Gammer received the puck in stride at the opposition blue line, before then braking in on the attack and snapping a shot high far-side for a highlight-reel tally.

Gammer’s first of the playoffs reestablished the Battlefords’ lead at 4-3, a lead the team would take to the dressing room in the second intermission.

North Stars’ centerman, Brett Gammer, pictured here, scored a gorgeous goal for the team Sunday night, his first career SJHL postseason goal. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Coming out in the third, the Bombers took just 6:14 to once again pull even on the night, this time at 4-4 thanks to speedy forward, Caleb Moretz.

Moretz’ goal came after Donavan Houle Villeneuve attempted to split the two Stars’ defensemen back on the play to mixed results. Scoring his second of the playoffs, Moretz’ tally was the result of simply following up his linemate’s fantastic individual effort to pot the loose puck into the Stars’ goal.

Tied at 4’s to the final seven minutes of the third period, the Bombers would be handed an opportunity to take the lead late when the Stars were called for Too Many Men.

Taking just two seconds to score off the ensuing faceoff, Nate Hooper snapped the puck back to Cade Kowalski at the left point for a quick seeing-eye shot on goal.

His second of the playoffs, Kowalski’s power play tally gave the Bombers the lead once again at 5-4 with just 6:40 to go in regulation time.

Daylan Marchi added an empty netter late to make it 6-4 with just 11 seconds to go in the game, bringing on a sigh of relief from the Bombers’ faithful in attendance at the Whitney Forum.

Bombers forward Daylan Marchi, who sealed Sunday night’s contest with an empty netter, is seen here conversing with Stars’ forward Braydon Buziak in a showdown of fierce competitors who have had their share of run-ins the series. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Stars’ goalie Joel Grzybowski stopped 29/34 shots he faced on the night, while Gabriel Waked turned aside 28/32 for the Bombers.

With the series now tied at three-games apiece, the North Stars will aim to rebound quickly, as the winner-take-all Game 7 will be played Tuesday night at the Civic Centre in North Battleford.

The Ultra Print Pregame Show for Game 7 will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA North Stars Hockey Broadcast on 1050 CJNB.

In other league action around the SJHL:

The Estevan Bruins defeated the Humboldt Broncos 4-1 to force a Game 7 in Estevan Tuesday, while the Nipawin Hawks came away with a 3-1 win over Yorkton to book a Game 7 with the Terriers in Nipawin Tuesday.

Scoring summary

First period:

3:52 BAT Austin Becker (1) ASST: Quintin Loon-Stewardson (4), Elijah Loon-Stewardson (3) (PP)

16:57 FF Alec Cokely (2) ASST: Billy Klymchuk (2), Matt Flodell (1)

18:08 FF Caleb Franklin (3) ASST: Ethan Daniels (1), Daylan Marchi (4)

Second period:

0:15 BAT Cody Spagrud (1) ASST: Quintin Loon-Stewardson (5), Noah Form (1) (PP)

1:51 BAT Seth Summers (1) ASST: Kaden Boser (1), Regan Doig (1)

2:16 FF Jack Mitchell (1) ASST: Mason Martin (1), Caleb Franklin (3)

5:32 BAT Brett Gammer (1) ASST: Garrett Johnson (1), Seth Summers (1)

Third period:

6:14 FF Caleb Moretz (2) ASST: Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (5), Tyler Higgins (3)

13:20 FF Cade Kowalski (2) ASST: Nate Hooper (7) (PP)

19:49 FF Daylan Marchi (2) ASST: Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (6) (EN)

6-4 Bombers, the Final.

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Bombers pull even in series with Stars, force Game 7

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