With series tied, North Stars look to rebound against Mustangs in Game 3

For the North Stars, Game 2 was the first time this post-season the team was shutout. The Stars were held off the board completely just once over the 58-game regular season schedule, a 6-0 loss to Kindersley on Jan. 22.

Shawn Parkinson, Melfort’s 19-year-old netminder from Victoria, B.C., is the man who collected the shutout in Game 2, which served as the first of his SJHL career. Parkinson entered the series in the second game, in place of Noah Giesbrecht who got the start in Game 1, and will likely need to remain hot to keep the starting role from Giesbrecht, who had played the bulk of his team’s games heading into the Finals’ series.

Parkinson’s 1.64 goals-against average and .938 save percentage through four games these playoffs rank second in each statistical category to only his counterpart at the other end of the ice, in Stars’ goalie, Joel Grzybowski.

In addition to leading the league with a shimmering 1.41 goals-against average and .958 save percentage, Grzybowski also ranks tops amongst netminders in wins with nine, having allowed two-goals or fewer in 11 of his 13 starts so far.

The lights-out play of Grzybowski between the pipes, coupled with the team’s seemingly flawless defensive structure, has left next-to-no room for the Mustangs’ offensive thoroughbreds to generate the kinds of chances the team is accustomed to making in open ice.

The Stars have held the Melfort big line of Justin Ball, Carson Albrecht, and Tanner Zentner, who had combined for over 54 per cent of their team’s goals through the first two rounds, to just two points total between them (both assists) through the opening two games of the series.

It will be interesting to see if, back at home, and holding last-change, the Mustangs can find a bit more room to maneuver, and find matchups more favorable for their big guns.

The Mustangs are 6-0 these playoffs at Northern Lights Palace, while the North Stars have a 3-1-1 record on the road so far.

A big reason for the Stars’ road success has been their depth, particularly at the center-ice position, where the team rolled a foursome of Quintin Loon-Stewardson, MacGregor Sinclair, Matthias Urbanski and Dayton Heino at the pivot position, leaving no bad matchups or weak link to be preyed upon by the opposition.

On the backend, a similar depth throughout the six defencemen is highlighted by a right-hand side that features the likes of Top Defenceman, Cody Spagrud, sophomore savant, Matthew Fletcher, and Ryan Granville. Granville – as still an 18-year-old rookie – could be following in the footsteps of the aforementioned two, as a two-way force who can both make plays and defend opposition forwards with aplomb.

The Ultra Print Pregame Show for tonight’s Game 3, 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.

Series schedule:

April 12 -> Game 1 -> 6-2 North Stars, the Final

April 13 -> Game 2 -> 1-0 Mustangs, the Final

April 16 -> Game 3 @ Northern Lights Palace

April 17 -> Game 4 @ Northern Lights Palace

April 19 -> Game 5 @ NB Civic Centre*

April 21 -> Game 6 @ Northern Lights Palace*

April 23 -> Game 7 @ NB Civic Centre*

*indicates if necessary

Pregame begins at 7 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. for each game of the series on NAPA North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

With series tied, North Stars look to rebound against Mustangs in Game 3

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