Pictured L-R: Goaltenders Dawson Smith (Ice Wolves) and Josh Kotai (North Stars) combined for 70 saves on 73 shots Friday night in La Ronge. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Goalies steal show

Stars fall to Ice Wolves in OT, extend point streak to 20 straight

Nov 12, 2022 | 12:39 AM

It was a night of tight-checking and strong goaltending Friday, as the Battlefords North Stars fell 2-1 in overtime in La Ronge, for just their third loss of the season.

Stars’ goalie Josh Kotai stopped 33/35 – including 31/32 in regulation – to give his team a chance throughout the night, while Ice Wolves’ tender Dawson Smith saved 37/38 at the other end as the Wolves’ best player in the win.

Despite the defeat, the North Stars still pick up a single point in the league standings, extending their point streak to now 20-straight to open the season, with a 17-0-2-1 record.

Captains Jake Southgate (North Stars) and Walker Jerome (Ice Wolves) took part in a special ceremonial face-off pregame in honour of Remembrance Day, Friday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Following a scoreless first period, Ice Wolves’ forward Ethan Strik cashed in for his 11^th of the season to open the scoring and make it 1-0 La Ronge just over 7:30 into the middle frame.

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Driving the front of the goal, Strik finished a bang-bang passing play from Walker Jarome in the corner to get the home team on the board first.

Despite firing 16 shots in the second, the Stars were unable to answer back prior to the second intermission, though the team would find their persistence pay off in the third.

After La Ronge successfully killed off a five-on-three power play for the Battlefords that carried into the early third period, the Stars continued to push, ultimately breaking through with Nik Smolinski’s second of the season.

Firing a point shot off some strong in-zone possession, Smolinski’s goal knotted the score as the lone tally of the third, meaning the game was destined for overtime.

Just 30 seconds into the extra frame, Ryley Morgan put the finishing touch on the night, converting a Trenton Curtis pass at the side of the goal, reaching around the Battlefords’ goaltender to clinch the victory for La Ronge on his eighth of the year.

Despite the loss, the Stars remain the lone junior team in Canada unbeaten in regulation time this year through 20 games.

The team will look to bounce back quickly, as they travel through the night to Nipawin following the game, in preparation for Saturday night’s matchup with the Nipawin Hawks.

Saturday night’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB. An earlier start then usual, the Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 6:30 p.m. with puck drop at 7 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:
No scoring

Second period:
7:36 LAR Ethan Strik (11) ASST: Walker Jerome (14), Thomas Wright (8) 1-0 Ice Wolves

Third period:

5:16 BAT Nikolas Smolinski (2) ASST: Colby Bear (10), Zane Florence (7) 1-1 Tie

Overtime:

0:30 LAR Ryley Morgan (8) ASST: Trenton Curtis (10) 2-1 Ice Wolves

2-1 Ice Wolves, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1