Forward, Dylan Esau (#28) will play his 100th career SJHL game Friday night, as he and his North Stars’ teammates look for continued success against the Mustangs. The Battlefords are 3-0 against Melfort this season, heading into the final game of the season-series. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Season-Series Concludes

Stars welcome Mustangs to home barn for final showdown

Feb 7, 2020 | 2:07 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to action Friday night for their first of two games this weekend, as the Melfort Mustangs come to town for a showdown at the Civic Centre.

Friday will mark the fourth and final matchup of the season-series between the Stars and Mustangs, as the Battlefords will look to close out the season-series with a sweep.

Sitting first overall in the league standings, the North Stars’ enter play with a 39-8-2 record this season. Rolling, with eight wins over their last ten, the team’s 80 points on the year give them an 11-point lead on second place heading down the stretch drive of the schedule.

At the other end, however, the North Stars will have a challenge ahead of them. The Mustangs will be a highly motivated club heading into the weekend, mired in the heart of a wild playoff race.

The Mustangs enter play Friday in fifth place overall, thanks to a 24-15-8 record. With 56 points on the year, the team sits just three points back of Nipawin for third, and three points up on Humboldt in seventh.

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While the core of both the North Stars’ and Mustangs’ rosters are well acquainted from last year’s Canalta Cup Final, the two teams have seen an additional boost this season from high profile midseason acquisitions who have helped to lead the way for their respective sides of late.

Former Kinderlsey Klipper, Austin Nault has picked up two goals and four points in just four games with the Mustangs, after returning from injury since being acquired from Kindersley in late November.

Meanwhile, ex-Red Wing, Ben Hiltz has picked up two goals, seven points over the last four games for the Stars, and again will be counted on Friday as the Battlefords continue to deal with injury woes.

The North Stars will again be without Elijah Loon-Stewardson, who will miss his third game over the team’s last five, joining Rylan Nivon on the sideline due to injury. Helping offset the loss, the Battlefords will see a return to action from Matthias Urbanski, who will rejoin the lineup after missing last Saturday’s game with a lower body injury.

Between the pipes, Kristian Lyon will get the start for the Stars Friday. With a perfect 4-0 record through his first four starts with the team, the defending SJHL Goaltender of the Month has posted a sparkling 1.75 goals-against average and .950 save percentage this year.

At the other end, Shawn Parkinson is likely to get the call for the Mustangs. Parkinson has started each of Melfort’s last four games, and is coming off runner-up status for the distinction of Goaltender of the Week. Through 33 games this year, Parkinson has posted 17 wins, to go along with a 2.73 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.

Friday’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 NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1