A collective effort: The North Stars scored six goals from six different players Friday in Game 1 against the Terriers. Fifteen different Stars have scored at least a single goal this postseason for the team through just eight playoffs games. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars shine in Game 1 vs. Terriers

Stars put up six to beat Terriers in convincing fashion; take 1-0 series lead

Mar 29, 2019 | 11:24 PM

The Battlefords North Stars defeated the Yorkton Terriers 6-2 Friday in Game 1 of their semifinal playoff matchup at the NB Civic Centre.

With the win, the North Stars now lead the teams’ best-of-seven series, 1-0.

Yorkton opened the scoring just under six minutes into the first period on the innital power play of the series, courtesy of forward Cole Keenleyside.

Firing the puck on goal off of a bit of a broken play, Keeneyside’s tally marked the forward’s fourth of the playoffs, and first since the 20-year-old scored a hattrick in Game 2 of the first-round against Nipawin.

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Keenleyside’s was the only goal of the first period, with the opening 20 minutes coming to a close, 1-0 Yorkton. The Battlefords were down early despite a 14-9 shot advantage in the frame.

The Stars did not take long to respond in the second, however, answering with a power play goal of their own, just 4:24 into the period off the stick of Elijah Loon-Stewardson to make it 1-1.

His second of the postseason, Loon Stewardson’s goal marked just the start of what would be a big night offensively for both he and his brother alike with family and friends from back home in attendance.

Stars’ forward, Elijah Loon-Stewardson picked up the tying goal and two assists on the night, to lead his team to victory Friday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Just a minute and change after Loon-Stewardson tied it, Dayton Heino scored to flip the lead entirely, and put the Stars in front for the first time in the game, scoring his first of the playoffs off a quick shot from point-blank range in front of the Yorkton net. That quickly, it was a 2-1 North Stars lead.

Still not finished, the Battlefords would notch their third goal of the period just passed the midway mark, as Braydon Buziak fired home his fourth of the postseason from Elijah Loon-Stewardson to make it 3-1 Stars. The goal moved Buziak just a single tally back of the league lead these playoffs, while also providing his team an insurance marker.

Outshooting the Terriers 31-19 after 40 minutes, the Stars would take their two-goal advantage into the second intermission.

Given a 5-on-3 man-advantage early in the period after Yorkton defenseman Kurri Woodford was assessed a high-sticking call just over a minute in to join Terriers captain, Brendan Mark already in the penalty box; the Stars only picked up where they had left off prior to the intermission.

Quintin Loon-Stewardson scored his fourth of the playoffs and team-leading 11^th point on the two-man advantage not-quite 1:30 into the third. Suddenly it was 4-1 for the home side with the assists going to Elijah Loon-Stewardson and Ryan Gil.

Then, just over 30 seconds later, still with the 5-on-4 power play, Gil scored a power play goal of his own to stretch his team’s lead to 5-1. Austin Becker and Quintin Loon-Stewardson grabbed the helpers on Gil’s first of the playoffs.

Stars’ forward Ryan Gil notched his first of the playoffs and first-career SJHL playoff goal Friday. Gil’s marker was one of three power play goals scored by the North Stars on the night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Though Yorkton forward, Kishaun Gervais got his team back on the board late with just six-and-a-half to go in regulation, the goal was too little, too late, as at 5-2, that is as far as the Terriers’ comeback bid would go.

Stars’ defenseman Austin Shumanski reestablished his club’s 4-goal lead by capping off the scoring on his first of the playoffs with just 31 seconds to go in the third.

With the goal, Shumanski became the sixth different defenseman to score a goal for the team this postseason.

In goal, Joel Grzybowski stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced on the night, highlighted by a huge save on a Cole Keenleyside breakaway from the blue line-in in the mid-first to keep his team from trailing by a couple early in the contest.

Grzybowski posted a .935 save percentage in the win. For the Hafford product, Friday’s game was the sixth time in eight games this postseason he has posted a .935 save percentage or better.

Ryan Oullette, at the other end, made 37 saves on the 43 shots he faced. Despite giving up six goals on the night, Oullette made several high-quality stops on the North Stars throughout the evening.

Game 2 between the Stars and Terriers will go tomorrow night, once again at the Civic Centre. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on 1050 CJNB. Marty Martinson will have the call on the action.

In other SJHL playoff action:

The Melfort Mustangs defeated the Estevan Bruins 6-2 in Game 1 of their semifinal matchup as well, with Game 2 in Melfort tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

5:53 YOR Cole Keenleyside (4) ASST: Cody Bruchkowski (7), Jared Legien (4) (PP)

Second period:

4:24 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (2) ASST: Matthew Fletcher (3) (PP)

5:46 BAT Dayton Heino (1) ASST: Kaden Boser (2)

10:42 BAT Braydon Buziak (4) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (4)

Third period:

1:28 BAT Quintin Loon-Stewardson (4) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (5), Ryan Gil (1) (PP)

2:06 BAT Ryan Gil (1) ASST: Quintin Loon-Stewardson (8), Austin Becker (2) (PP)

13:37 YOR Kishaun Gervais (1) ASST: Colby Brandt (8), Casey McDonald (2)

19:29 BAT Austin Shumanski (1) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (2)

6-2 North Stars, the Final.

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1