The North Stars' power play has seen great success as of late, thanks largely to their ability to create traffic in front of the opposition goal, as seen here by forwards Owen Lamb (#21) and Brett Gammer (#9) (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Hockey night, tonight

Series shifts to Yorkton for North Stars and Terriers, Game 3

Apr 2, 2019 | 2:03 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to action tonight for game three of their best-of-seven semifinal playoff series with the Yorkton Terriers as the series shifts to Farrell Agencies Arena in Yorkton.

It was a 6-2 North Stars victory in game one of the series Friday, that saw eight different players notch a goal on the evening between the two sides. In game two Saturday, both teams held off the scorecard entirely until overtime, when Stars’ forward Quintin Loon-Stewardson scored to give his team a 2-0 series advantage.

Yorkton should be confident heading back to Farrell Agencies Arena tonight as the team has been largely dominant at home this post-season, winning four-of-five games played in front of their home fans.

On the other side of things, despite holding a 1-2 record on the road these playoffs, the Stars displayed, full well over the back-half of the regular season, the team’s prowess at playing the spoiler in opposition rinks.

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The Stars played 17 of their final 22 games of the schedule on the road, posting a 12-3-2 record over the span, away from the Civic Centre.

Offensively, the Battlefords have been red-hot as of late on the power play, scoring seven power play goals over their last five games, with four different players chipping in to contribute.

The Stars rank first amongst the remaining four teams in power play efficiency, with the man-advantage unit clicking along at 22.9 per cent.

Yorkton’s power play is next-best of the semifinalists, with a 16.7 per cent conversion rate with the extra man.

Penalty killing is where the two teams may be furthest apart though, with the Stars’ 91.7 per cent efficiency top-ranked in the playoffs, while the Terriers’ 71.1 per cent is in the basement.

At even-strength, it will be interesting to see if Yorkton opts to change up their lines at all prior to game three, or aim for different matchups in an effort to free-up their two big lines.

The Terriers averaged a league-best 4.17 goals per-game over the 58-game regular season schedule, but have scored just two goals total through the opening two games of their semifinal series with the Battlefords.

The Terriers’ top line of Colby Brandt, Chantz Petruic and Cody Bruchkowski, who entered the semifinals with a combined 32 points through Yorkton’s opening 10 games of playoff action, have scored just two assists combined. Petruic specifically, who led the Terriers, and finished fourth in league scoring this season with 84 points, has yet to register a point.

Forwards Jared Legien, Branden Klatt and Aiden Bulych on the second line, have one assist between them.

Legien finished third in league goals this season with 35 in just 44 games, while Klatt had 65 points in 57 games. Bulych led all rookies in scoring this season with 49 points.

The Stars, meanwhile, have received offensive contribution throughout their lineup with three of the team’s four forward lines having directly contributed already, with at least a single goal in the series.

With seemingly a different hero stepping up each night for the team, no doubt spearheading the offensive attack as a whole has been rookie Quintin Loon-Stewardson, who has emerged as a premier player in the league this post-season.

Loon-Stewardson, who finished the regular season sixth amongst first-year scorers, leads all players in production these playoffs, scoring a league-high five goals, 13 points in just nine games played.

Loon-Stewardson’s breakout has given the Stars a second “top line,” that, in compliment with the Sinclair unit, offers matchup difficulties for the defence of the Terriers when trying to decide which unit to deploy their checking line against.

Between the pipes, Stars’ goaltender, Joel Grzybowski has continued to build on a sensational first round as the goalie has continued to turn heads around the league in round two.

Grzybowski leads all starting goalies this post-season with a 1.67 goals-against average and .952 save percentage, coming off a perfect 40-save performance on the 40 shots he faced in game two.

At the other end, Terriers’ goalie, Ryan Oullette is coming off his best performance of the spring in a losing effort, having stopped 41/42 shots faced by the 18-year-old in game two.

Oullette has posted a 3.05 goals-against average and .916 save percentage these playoffs.

The Ultra Print Pregame Show for game three tonight will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars hockey on 1050 CJNB. Marty Martinson will have the call.

In other action around the SJHL:

Holding a 2-0 series lead over the Estevan Bruins, the Melfort Mustangs will head to Affinity Place in Estevan for game three.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1