The North Stars received four goals from four different scorers in Tuesday night’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Notre Dame Hounds at the Civic Centre. With the win, the Stars take their season-series with the Hounds 5-1. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Captain plays hero

Fletcher cashes in for OT winner as Stars’ top Hounds 4-3

Feb 12, 2020 | 12:18 AM

The Battlefords North Stars topped the division rival Notre Dame Hounds in dramatic overtime fashion Tuesday, 4-3 at the Civic Centre.

Stars’ captain Matthew Fletcher led the way, wiring home the overtime game winner just 2:34 into the extra session on a breakaway opportunity; while Austin Becker, Jaxon Steele and Seth Summers also scored for the team.

Austin Schwab stopped 29-of-32 to cement the victory for the Battlefords, and build on an already stellar record. Schwab is now 12-2 on the year, while posting a 2.46 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

Notre Dame’s Logan Dyck made 45 saves on 49 Stars’ shots to keep his team in the game to the very end, while Braydon Iwaschuk scored a pair and Ben Hamilton pitched the other in the losing cause.

Becker’s 19^th of the season opened the scoring for the Stars, when Steele fed the Amery, WI., product driving the far-side post on a rush chance, making it 1-0 Stars midway through the first. The goal served as Becker’s second in as many games, and team-leading 54^th point of the season.

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Summers’ tally made it 2-0 Battlefords about five minutes later. Cashing in on a shot from the blue line, Summers’ goal was the defenceman’s 12^th of the season, good for second amongst rearguards in the league.

Before the end of the period, Notre Dame answered back with Hamilton’s second of the year on the power play.

Despite an 18-9 shot advantage for the Battlefords, the Hounds remained in the game heading into the second frame.

Steele’s 11^th made it 3-1 North Stars just seven minutes into the second, but again the Hounds would make things close, scoring another power play marker late in the period to make it 3-2.

While the Stars again fired 18 shots in the third period, Iwaschuk’s second of the night and 11^th of the year was the lone goal to finish regulation, making the game 3-3 and destined for overtime.

In the extra session, Fletcher’s goal was the defenceman’s 11^th of the campaign and second in as many nights. Fletcher now sits tied with Summers for second in blue line scoring with 44 points apiece, just one back of the league lead.

With the victory, the Stars have won three straight and continue to build on their league-leading record, now 42-8-2. The team’s 86 points are 15 more than second overall, Flin Flon.

The North Stars will return to action this weekend for a road swing that will see the team play three games in three nights, headlined by a back-to-back with Flin Flon Friday and Saturday night, before moving on to Nipawin Sunday.

Friday’s game against the Bombers 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 Auto Parts North Stars Hockey.

Scoring summary

First period:

10:21 BAT Austin Becker (19) ASST: Jaxon Steele (11), Ben Hiltz (30)

15:56 BAT Seth Summers (12) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (31), Ryland McNinch (4)

18:14 ND Ben Hamilton (2) ASST: Jarrett Penner (17) (PP)

Second period:

7:00 BAT Jaxon Steele (11) ASST: Matthias Urbanski (32)

19:12 ND Braydon Iwaschuk (10) ASST: Cole Stevenson (14), Hardy Wagner (12) (PP)

17:22 ND Braydon Iwaschuk (11) ASST: None (SH)

Overtime:

2:34 BAT Matthew Fletcher (11) ASST: Elijah Loon-Stewardson (32)

4-3 North Stars, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1