Stars’ forward, Austin Becker leads the Battlefords in scoring with 54 points and has been red-hot for the team of late, with three goals over his last four games and twelve points over his last seven. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

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While it may be Valentine’s Day Friday, the only emotion in the air at Flin Flon’s Whitney Forum will be animosity, as the Battlefords North Stars travel to Flin Flon to take on the rival Bombers.

The Stars and Bombers sit first and second in the league standings heading down the stretch drive of the regular season, and will look to stir up the bad-blood at the heart of last spring’s seven-game playoff series.

Friday night will mark the fifth game of the season-series, and first at Flin Flon’s Whitney Forum, where the teams will play back-to-backs this weekend. The Stars lead the season-series 3-1 heading into Friday, although the matchup has been tight.

Even though the games haven’t all been close, the margin of the season series has been razor thin. Each team has taken home their biggest win – and suffered their biggest loss – against the other this season.

The North Stars blew away the Bombers 10-3 in late September, only for Flin Flon to answer back with a 10-1 win in mid-December. The other two games include an overtime thriller at Battleford Arena and an additional one-goal contest, prior to Christmas.

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The North Stars enter the weekend atop the league standings with a 42-8-2 record, giving the team a league-best 86 points.

Flin Flon sit second with a 33-12-5 record, giving them 71 points on the season.

With 235 and 211 goals scored, respectively, the Bombers and Stars lay claim to the two most dynamic offensive attacks in the league. They are the only two teams to have averaged over four goals per-game this season.

Flin Flon’s attack is led by the most lethal three-headed monster in the league. Alec Malo (84 points), Cole Rafuse (80 points) and Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (59 points) sit second, third and sixth in league scoring this season and have combined for a staggering 84 goals and 223 points.

Rookie sensation, Tristian Lemyre follows in seventh place – and first amongst rookies – with 54 points, while Easton and Chase Haygarth complete a lethal second unit with 50 and 48 points apiece.

While the Bombers’ raw totals are enough to intimidate most clubs, the North Stars counter with a heavy offensive artillery of their own, despite missing three of their key cogs.

Austin Becker’s 54 points lead the North Stars and rank eighth in the league, while Matthias Urbanski sits tied for tenth overall with 53 points.

Forwards Ben Hiltz and Elijah Loon-Stewardson add another 48 points each to the team’s top six, while Quintin Loon-Stewardson and Rylan Nivon would give the team another two point-per-game threats if not for injuries.

Quintin Loon-Stewardson, Nivon and rookie standout, Steven Kesslering, will all miss Friday’s action due to injury.

While the offensive numbers speak for themselves up front, on the back end the teams receive an added boost as well.

The two sides’ respective captains, Matthew Fletcher for the Stars, and Mason Martin for the Bombers, sit tied atop the blue line scoring charts with 45 points each heading into the weekend.

Following closely behind, are the Battlefords’ Seth Summers, who’s 44 points rank third, and Noah Form, who’s 34 are fifth-best amongst rearguards.

Should special teams play a pivotal part in the weekend meeting, the Stars and Bombers remain eerily well matched.

Flin Flon’s 28 per cent efficiency rate on the man advantage is tops in the league, while the Battlefords’ 19.6 per cent ranks fourth.

On the flip side, the Stars’ penalty kill sets the bar at just under 87 per cent, while the Bombers’ kill is fifth at 83 per cent.

With potent offence and elite special teams on both sides, the difference this weekend may be determined by goaltending.

The North Stars will turn to Kristian Lyon between the pipes. Lyon has posted a perfect 6-0 record, to go with a 1.67 goals-against average and .950 save percentage through his first six games with the Battlefords.

Flin Flon are likely to counter with Jacob Delorme, who has started each of the last two games for the Bombers, and four of their last six. Through 35 games this season, Delorme has posted a 3.12 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.

Friday’s game will be broadcast on NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey 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.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1