Stars score two in final three minutes, steal shootout victory in Melfort

Mustangs’ captain Tyson Meyers opened the scoring just 3:31 into the first period. Picking up his third of the season, the Melfort hometown product’s effort got the crowd into the game early and served as an early momentum swing to the homeside.

The Stars did tie the game briefly in the opening frame nearly 15 minutes in, as Reagan snapped a laser shot high far side over the goalie’s shoulder to make it 1-1. The goal served as Reagan’s second of the season.

The game did not remain tied for long however, as before the period was through, with the clock winding down, Mustangs’ forward Colton Schell was called for charging Elijah Loon-Stewardson.

Taking matters into his own hands, Loon-Stewardson then dropped the gloves for retribution, although Schell wanted no part and refused to fight back. While proverbial justice was served through the fisticuffs, the act resulted in Loon-Stewardson being given a 5-minute major and game ejection for fighting,

On the ensuing five-minute power play, Melfort scored two goals from forwards Kenzie Arnold and Zach Smith just two-minutes apart. The late scoring surge resulted in a 3-1 Mustangs lead to end the first.

In the second, shortly after finishing the tail end of the penalty kill, the Stars were given an opportunity to strike back on a power play of their own.

Taking full advantage, the North Stars took just five seconds to capitalize.

Nivon snapped the puck back off the faceoff to Matthew Fletcher, who then relayed to Boser for a one-timer to the back of the net. Like that, the Stars were trailing by just a single goal as it was now 3-2.

About 10 minutes later with the Stars on the power play again, however, the Mustangs punched in a shorthanded tally of their own. Arnold’s second of the game and ninth of the season, the marker made it 4-2 to end the second.

In the third period, the game remained a two-goal contest to the waning minutes of regulation.

Then suddenly, with just under three minutes to go, Nivon connected to Quintin Loon-Stewardson in front to get the Stars back to within one, trailing 4-3.

Loon-Stewardson’s team-leading ninth of the season seemed to breathe new life into the team. It took just 16 seconds later for Nivon to reknot the score entirely at 4-4 with his fifth of the campaign.

After overtime solved nothing, the game came down to a shootout.

In the penalty-shot competition, Dmyterko shone for the Stars stopping each of the two shooters he faced, while Nivon provided an exclamation mark to his own performance, sending the team on the bus ride home with smiles on their faces; 5-4 North Stars, the final.

The Stars will now get a day off Thursday, before returning to action Friday against Flin Flon.

Taking place at Battleford Arena, Friday’s game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey.

Scoring summary

First period:

3:31 MLF Tyson Meyers (3) ASST: Colton Schell (5)

14:57 BAT Carson Reagan (2) ASST: Walter Somers (2)

17:15 MLF Kenzie Arnold (8) ASST: Zack Smith (6) (PP)

19:49 MLF Zack Smith (4) ASST: Kenzie Arnold (7) (PP)

Second period:

3:50 BAT Kaden Boser (4) ASST: Matthew Fletcher (10), Rylan Nivon (7) (PP)

13:09 MLF Kenzie Arnold (9) ASST: Zach Anderson (5) (SH)

Third period:

17:12 BAT Quintin Loon-Stewardson (9) ASST: Rylan Nivon (8), Matthew Fletcher (11)

17:28 BAT Rylan Nivon (5) ASST: None

Overtime:

None

Shootout:

MLF Marco Lopez (No goal)

BAT Matthew Fletcher (No goal)

MLF Zack Smith (No goal)

BAT Matthias Urbanski (No goal)

MLF Kenzie Arnold (No goal)

BAT Rylan Nivon (Game winning goal)*

5-4 North Stars, the Final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars score two in final three minutes, steal shootout victory in Melfort

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