The North Stars celebrate following Saturday's bounce back victory against the rival Bombers. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

4-2 Final

North Stars answer back with character win in Flin Flon

Feb 19, 2023 | 4:24 AM

Coming off a tough start to the weekend Friday, the Battlefords North Stars answered back with authority Saturday night, taking home a 4-2 win over the rival Bombers in night two of their weekend back-to-back in Flin Flon.

Jackson Allan scored a pair and Josh Kotai stopped 38/40 shots against for the win, while Brad Blake and Kian Bell also scored to help lead the team to victory.

North Stars defenceman Jordan Gibbs also played a pivotal role in Saturday’s win, jumping up in the play several times to generate scoring chances, while also being a tower of strength on the backend defensively. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Coming out flying from the opening shift of the night, the North Stars wasted no time getting pucks on goal early, taking a 9-7 shot advantage to the first intermission following a scoreless opening period.

Early in the second, Allan’s eighth of the season and first of the night made it 1-0 North Stars on the deflection of a Kesslering shot from the high slot, to give the Stars the early lead.

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Two minutes later, Wilson Steele found Blake on a one-timer from the right circle to make it 2-0 Stars on Blake’s 10^th of the year.

Allan’s second of the night, and ninth of the campaign stretched the lead to 3-0, converting on a quick shot through the legs of the Bombers’ goalie Harmon Laser-Hume, off the setup by Kian Bell.

Jackson Allan scored a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner Saturday, in one of the biggest wins of the season for the team. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

After Flin Flon’s Zach Cain answered on a backdoor tap-in to get the Bombers on the board prior to the second intermission at 3-1, Jacob Vockler added another to the home-side back to within a single on a power play goal midway through the third..

However, despite a Flin Flon push late, Bell’s league leading 44^th would put the game away for good, making it a 4-2 Battlefords final on a gorgeous backhand through the five-hole on the Bombers’ goaltender once again.

Josh Kotai was a rockstar throughout the weekend for the North Stars, following up a 42-save performance Friday with another 38/40 saves Saturday night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

With the win, the North Stars extend their league leading record to 41-4-2-1 this season.

The team will now get a couple of nights off before returning to action Tuesday night against the Yorkton Terriers, for their first of three straight on home ice.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast 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:

No scoring

Second period:

2:09 BAT Jackson Allan (8) ASST: Steven Kesslering

4:54 BAT Brad Blake (10) ASST: Wilson Steele, Steven Kesslering

9:01 BAT Jackson Allan (9) ASST: Kian Bell

18:32 FF Zach Cain (20) ASST: Brent Gulenchyn, Rylan Pearce

Third period:

8:01 FF Jacob Vockler (13) ASST: Reece Richmond, Cole Duperreault (PP)

14:23 BAT Kian Bell (44) ASST: Jake Southgate

4-2 North Stars, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1