Stars’ netminder Adam Dmyterko led the way for the Battlefords Friday, stopping 28/31 shots against, while providing a calming presence between the pipes for his team. With the win, Dmyterko improves to a perfect 9-0 on the season, to go along with a shimmering 2.19 goals-against average and .934 save percentage. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

The streak continues

Stars deliver late-game magic again to stay hot against Bombers in OT thriller

Oct 11, 2019 | 11:34 PM

For the second-straight game, the Battlefords North Stars have worked their magic like Houdini to erase a late game deficit with a goal in the final minutes of the third, before then delivering again in the extra session for the win.

The North Stars came from behind Friday night to beat the Flin Flon Bombers 4-3 in overtime, sending the Stars’ faithful in attendance at Battleford Arena into joyous hysteria.

Rookie Steven Kesslering played the hero on the night, picking up the game-winner. Kesslering’s heroics came after 20-year-old Matthias Urbanski tied the game with just under two minutes to go in regulation time to force OT.

Kesslering’s tally was the forward’s second of the season. Urbanski’s goal was his sixth.

Austin Becker and Brett Gammer also pitched in with goals for the Stars in the win, while goaltender Adam Dmyterko denied 28 of the 31 shots sent his way on the evening.

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New threads, same result: The North Stars debuted their new third jersey Friday, pictured here on Matthias Urbanski (#12) and Elijah Loon-Stewardson (#25), as the team continued to roll with another one for the win column. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

At the other end, the Bombers’ top line lead the way for much of the night as Donavan Houle-Villeneuve chipped in another two goals for the second night in a row, while his linemate Alec Malo potted his fifth of the season as well.

Bombers’ goalie Matt Sanker stopped 39 of 43 shots against in the loss.

With the win, the Stars improve to a sizzling 12-1 to start the season, while the Bombers fall to 7-4 in defeat.

After a scoreless opening period, Becker cracked the goose egg for the Stars just over a minute in to period two.

Becker’s tally was the forward’s eighth of the season, marking a new career-high. The scoring play was assisted by Rylan Nivon and Noah Form, making it 1-0 for the Battlefords.

Later in the period, however, the Bombers struck back with a couple of their own in quick succession to reverse the lead entirely, courtesy of Houle-Villeneuve.

For the Flying Frenchman, the goals up his total on the year to 14 goals, 21 points in just 11 games.

Gammer tied the game for the Battlefords on his fourth of the season late in the second, to make it a 2-2 tie heading into the third.

In the third period, the game remained tied for majority of the frame, until Malo broke through for his fifth of the year. Assisted by Cole Rafuse, the goal put the Bombers ahead up to the waning minutes of regulation.

Stars’ blue liner Matthew Fletcher picked up two helpers on the night to stay hot, while the Bombers’ Alec Malo scored his fifth of the season in what was a prominent matchup throughout the contest Friday. Fletcher leads all defencemen with 16 points this year, while Malo leads all players with 23. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

That is when Urbanski stepped up with the equalizer at the 18:18 mark of the period. Capitalizing on a quick release that brought the crowd to their feet, Urbanski’s tally gave the Stars an added confidence heading into overtime with the teams deadlocked 3-3.

In OT, it didn’t take long for the Stars to complete the comeback for good.

Kesslering’s second of the season tipped the scales in the Stars’ favour just 2:20 into the extra session, making it a night of celebration in the Battlefords.

The victory sends the North Stars into the Thanksgiving break on a high note, as the team will have the remainder of the weekend off, before returning to action Oct. 16 against the Ice Wolves in La Ronge.

Scoring summary

First period:
No scoring

Second period:
1:04 BAT Austin Becker (8) ASST: Rylan Nivon (9), Noah Form (5)

5:31 FF Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (13) ASST: Alec Malo (17) (PP)

9:15 FF Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (14) ASST: Easton Haygarth (7), Alec Malo (18) (PP)

14:27 BAT Brett Gammer (4) ASST: Matthew Fletcher (12), Austin Becker (8)

Third period:
13:10 FF Alec Malo (5) ASST: Cole Rafuse (13)

18:18 BAT Matthias Urbanski (6) ASST: Seth Summers (6), Matthew Fletcher (13)

Overtime:

2:20 BAT Steven Kesslering (2) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (11)

4-3 Stars, the Final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1