The North Stars and Red Wings took little time to renew acquaintances in Friday's series opener in North Battleford. (Martin Martinson/battlefords)

By Martin Martinson

3-2 Final

North Stars fall to Weyburn in series opener

Mar 18, 2023 | 5:53 AM

The Battlefords North Stars fell 3-2 to Weyburn Friday night in the opening game of the teams’ best-of-seven first round playoff series.

Red Wings’ goalie Dazza Mitchell led the way for his team between the pipes, stopping 39 of 41 Stars’ shots, while Josh Kotai made 25/28 saves to keep the Battlefords in the game throughout the night.

Of the five goals scored between the two sides, all but Keiton Klein’s tally in the final minute of play came via the special teams.

Stars’ forward Keiton Klein scored Friday night in his return to the lineup, for Game 1 of the postseason. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Kian Bell opened the scoring for the North Stars just over a minute into the second period, following a scoreless first, firing home a wrister from the blue line to make it 1-0 Battlefords, bringing the hometown crowd to their feet.

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However, the celebration was short-lived, as Ty Mason answered for the Wings just over three minutes later with a power play tally of his own to knot the contest at a goal apiece.

It remained a 1-1 game until just-past the midway mark of the second when Ryley Morgan cashed for his first of the playoffs on a shorthanded breakaway to give Weyburn their first lead of the night at 2-1 heading into the third.

Late in the third period, centre Jackson Hassman extended the Wings’ lead to 3-1 with just three minutes to go, firing home a shot from the left of the net for his first of the playoffs and what would turn out to be the game winner.

Klein’s first came late with just under 17 seconds to go to get the Stars back to within a single, trailing 3-2, and while the team would get another look late on a last-second shot from Tynan Ewart that buzzed just high and possibly off the crossbar, that is as close at the team would get.

Wings’ defenceman Ian Maier secured the victory for Weyburn on a diving block late, sprawling out to deflect a Jake Southgate slapper in the dying seconds, off his forearm and into the corner.

With the victory, the Red Wings take a 1-0 series lead, heading into Game 2 Saturday night in North Battleford.

Game 2 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. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

Scoring summary

First period:

No scoring

Second period:

1:02 BAT Kian Bell (1) ASST: Tynan Ewart, Jake Southgate 1-0 Stars

4:09 Ty Mason (1) ASST” Blake Norris, Ryley (PP) 1-1 Tie

12:46 WEY Ryley Morgan (1) ASST: None (SH) 2-1 Wings

Third period:

17:04 WEY Jackson Hassman ASST: Blake Norris Jordan Edwards (PP) 3-1 Wings

19:43 BAT Keiton Klein (1) ASST: Jackson Allan 3-2 Wings

3-2 Red Wings, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1