Forward, Matthias Urbanski has been a force for the Stars this season, sitting third in team scoring with 16 goals, 42 points through 41 games. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back to business

Stars return home against La Ronge, in search of third straight win

Jan 17, 2020 | 1:15 PM

Coming off back-to-back road victories earlier in the week against Notre Dame and Melville, respectively, the Battlefords North Stars will return to the Civic Centre Friday night as the team welcomes the La Ronge Ice Wolves to town.

Back on home ice, the North Stars enter play in top spot of the league standings with 70 points on the season. Thanks to a 34-7-2 record through their opening 43 games, the team’s 14-point lead on second place Yorkton, saw the Stars become the first team to clinch a playoff spot this year.

At the other end, La Ronge sit fourth with a 23-16-5 record, and have been especially dangerous as of late, picking up at least a single point in eight of their last 10 games overall.

The Stars and Ice Wolves sit second and third overall in goals per-game this season. The Battlefords have averaged four goals per contest, while La Ronge has rung up 3.5 on a nightly basis.

That being said, the North Stars will be without their leading scorer on the night Friday, as Rylan Nivon will miss the opening game of the weekend with an upper body injury.

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In the absence of the heart-and-soul veteran, the Stars will need other players throughout the lineup to continue to step up as they have of late.

The North Stars have received five goals from five different players in each of their last two games. The team is led into action by Jaxon Steele, who enters play on a team-high eight-game scoring streak, having picked up five goals and 10 points over the span.

Leading the offensive pack for the Ice Wolves has been 20-year-old forward, Daylon Mannon.

Mannon’s 27 goals are third most in the Saskatchewan League, while his 60 points rank fourth overall on the scoring charts. The forward has also saved some of his best performances for against the Battlefords, having picked up four goals, six points in five games against Stars this season.

In addition to Mannon, the North Stars will also need to be aware of first-year sensation, Kyle Ford. The 19-year-old Calgary, Alta., product leads the rookie scoring race with 39 points through 44 games this year and with quick hands and playmaking acumen, is another consistent scoring threat for La Ronge on a nightly basis.

Looking to counter the offensive attack of the Ice Wolves, 19-year-old, Kristian Lyon is expected to get his second straight start for the Battlefords in goal.

Lyon was lights out for the Stars in his team debut Wednesday night, stopping all 42 shots he faced for a 5-0, blank slate win. The native of Langley, B.C., will look to keep that momentum rolling against the Ice Wolves.

Across the ice, it remains to be seen who will get the start for La Ronge. Rookie, Xavier Cannon has played just five games this season, but is sporting a team-best 2.41 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

Fellow first-year netminder, Liam McGrava has played the bulk of his team’s games this year, posting a 3.17 goals-against average and .915 save percentage through 33 games, but was pulled in favor of Cannon in his last start, Jan. 11.

Friday night’s game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1