North Stars teammates celebrate following a goal in the second period, Friday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars shine in Green

Stars take 13th straight with 5-1 win over Klippers

Jan 6, 2023 | 11:49 PM

Make it a lucky 13 straight for the Battlefords North Stars.

The Stars extended their winning streak to 13 games with a 5-1 win over the division rival Klippers, Friday night in North Battleford.

Three of the team’s four forward lines got in on the scoring, as Keiton Klein notched a pair goals, while Kian Bell built on his league leading total, Steve Kessering added his second in as many games, and defenseman Wilson Steele also scored.

With a pair of goals Friday, Klein now has three goals in his last two games and six points in his last six games. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Doell added a pair of assists, while Bell’s helper also gave him two points on the night, and goaltender Justen Maric stopped 26/27 Kindersley shots to backstop the team to victory.

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Bell’s league-leading 29^th of the season opened the scoring to make it 1-0 Stars just passed the midway mark of the first, on a great all-around play set up by Holden Doell.

Doell knocked the puck off a Klipper defenceman’s stick to put it right into Bell’s wheelhouse at the side of the goal. Picking the puck up and reaching around the goaltender all in one motion, Bell then dove through the air to knock a shot into the back of the net and open the scoring.

However, the Klippers’ leading scorer would answer back with just minutes to go in the frame. Spencer Paplawski responded on a two-on-one conversion, set up by his twin brother Adam, to knot the contest 1-1 the end of the first. This, despite a 15-5 shot advantage for the Battlefords.

Klippers’ goalie Cody Jaman, who was busy throughout the night, stopped 14/15 in the opening period on his way to 36 saves on the night, highlighted by breakaway stops on both Klein and Colby Bear to keep his team within a pair into the third.

Klein’s first of the night came midway through the second period on a cannonading drive from the right point, powered through the goalie’s glove for his 13^th, to make it 2-1.

Wilson Steele then added his fourth on a snipe from the top of the left hashmark to make it 3-1 Stars into the final frame.

In the third, Klein’s second of the game sealed the deal making it 4-1 with a shot into the empty net, as Kindersley pushed late. Kesslering then added another late goal on a quick wrister from the left circle to cap the evening at 5-1 Stars.

The North Stars celebrate following the night’s victory, in their debut of this season’s fan-designed third jerseys. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

With the victory, the North Stars extend their league leading record to 30-0-2-1, and point streak to 33 straight games. With 63 points, the Battlefords now sit 16 points up on the field in the league standings.

The Stars will look to continue their scorching play as their weekend home-and-home with the Klippers flips locations to Kindersley, Saturday.

Saturday night’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

BAT Kian Bell (29) ASST: Holden Doell 1-0 BAT

KIN Spencer Paplawski (6) ASST: Adam Paplawski 1-1 Tie

Second period:

10:15 Keiton Klein (13) ASST: Colby Bear 2-1 BAT

13:00 BAT Wilson Steele (4) Kian Bell, Zane Florence 3-1 BAT

Third period:

16:25 BAT Keiton Klein (14) ASST: Tynan Ewart (EN) 4-1 BAT

18:01 BAT Steven Kesslering (17) ASST: Holden Doell 5-1 BAT

5-1 North Stars, the final

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1