Terriers take Game 2 in OT to even Anavet Cup series

Also like last game, the Terriers’ two goals in the opening period would come courtesy of a multi-goal performance by a single player, as veteran forward Scott Mickoski scored each of his team’s tallies in the opening period of Game 2, after fellow vet., Jared Roy scored two in the first period of Friday’s contest.

The parallels to Friday’s Game 1 did not stop there, however, as the Stars once again answered back with an early second period goal of their own to cut their deficit in half, this time, thanks to Owen Lamb on the power play.

Coming just 30 seconds into the second, Lamb’s power play marker came off precision passing through the zone that saw Matthias Urbanski fire a feed through the seem to Sinclair on the far-side boards, who then zipped a pass back against the grain to Lamb standing at the backdoor for a tap in. Just like that, the score was 2-1.

Before the end of the second, the Stars also added another on the night, as forward Austin Becker scored his first, with family in attendance that had traveled over eight-hours to take in the action. Becker’s goal, coming off a net drive in front, tied things up for the first time on the night, 2-2 by the end of two periods.

In the third, defenseman Noah Form scored on a shot from the blue line that knocked perfectly off the post and in to give his team their first lead of the game. Just about half-way through the final period it was suddenly 3-2 Stars.

The Battlefords would carry that lead into the final minute of play in regulation time, even killing off a minor penalty assessed at the 12:11 mark of the third, to look as though for the second night straight, it would be a Stars’ third period tally to shock the crowd and win the game for the visitors; but that’s where the outcome differed in Game 2.

On another power play, late, with the goalie pulled and extra-attacker on the ice – the Terriers scored to tie things up with just 45 seconds to go in regulation thanks to Orca Wiesblatt’s first of the series.

Receiving a laser beam feed from Chase Brakel through the middle of the ice to the back door, Wiesblatt one-timed home the 3-3 goal to give Portage their first power play marker of the series, at the biggest moment of the game.

Tied at three-goals apiece, the North Stars and Terriers were headed to overtime for the first time in the series.

In OT, after outshooting the Stars 11-5 in the extra frame only to be stymied by goaltender Joel Grzybowski, the Terriers would finally break through with a shot that found pay dirt, coming off the stick of forward Kolton Shindle on a bang-bang play in front to win the game; 4-3 Terriers, the final.

Grzybowski stopped a number of golden opportunities on the night, with perhaps his best save of the evening coming off a clear-cut breakaway opportunity for Braden Billaney in overtime.

Busting in on the attack solo after intercepting a drop pass right at the Stars’ defensive blue line, Billaney opted for a deke-move to the forehand, that was shut down by the pad of the veteran goalie, only for the winger’s rebound try to be snared by the glove as well, in lightning-like fashion, just for good measure.

All total, Grzybowski stopped 37 of the 41 shots he faced on the evening, giving his team a chance to win, right to the final horn.

At the other end, Ethan Peterson made the most of his first start of the series, stopping 27/30, including a huge two-pad stack save in overtime that saw the goalie snare the puck in his glove off a North Star shot in front, while shooting his pads to the side.

Game 3 of the Anavet Cup will be played Tuesday at the NB Civic Centre, as the series now shift to the Battlefords. The Ultra Print Pregame Show Tuesday will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB.

Scoring summary

First period:

2:46 PT Scott Mickoski (1) ASST: Reilly Funk (2), Owen Murray (1)

11:42 PT Scott Mickoski (2) ASST: Orca Wiesblatt (1), Owen Murray (2)

Second period:

0:30 BAT Owen Lamb (1) ASST: MacGregor Sinclair (1), Matthias Urbanski (2) (PP)

7:41 BAT Austin Becker (1) ASST: Noah Form (1), Matthias Urbanski (3)

Third period:

9:50 BAT Noah Form (1) ASST: None

19:15 PT Orca Wiesblatt (1) ASST: Chase Brakel (2), Owen Murray

Overtime:

16:53 PT Kolton Shindle (1) ASST: Reece Henry (1), Ocean Wiesblatt (1)

4-3 Terriers, the Final.

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Terriers take Game 2 in OT to even Anavet Cup series

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