L-R: Josh Kotai stopped 44 Melfort shots for the shutout Tuesday, and Kian Bell scored the double OT winner, to bring the Stars just a win away from advancing to the SJHL Finals. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

One win from Finals

Kotai, Bell lead Stars to 1-0 double OT win in Game 3

Apr 5, 2023 | 2:55 AM

It took just over 84 minutes of blood, sweat and pucks on goal, but the Battlefords North Stars took home a 1-0 double OT thriller in Melfort Tuesday night, to take a 3-0 stranglehold in their semi-finals best-of-seven series with the Mustangs.

Kian Bell scored the winner for the Battlefords just 4:15 into the second overtime period, sprung for a breakaway chance in sudden death on a pass from Holden Doell, to break in alone on the goaltender.

Faking to the backhand, Bell then pulled quickly to the forehand, firing home his SJHL-leading 11^th of the playoffs to bring his teammates onto the ice in jubilant celebration with the win.

The goal marked the lone tally for either side on the night, despite a combined 63 shots through regulation between the two teams (34-29 MLF), on their way to another 24 combined through the overtimes (14-10 BAT), with only the final shot of the night finding the back of the net.

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Josh Kotai made 44 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs to backstop the team in the victory, including a 10-bell stop with the right pad on a Hayden Tuba one-timer from the high-slot, another excellent save on a Riley Ashe net-drive, as well as keeping the door shut on a trio of Melfort power plays in overtime.

Mustangs’ goalie Joel Favreau at the other end was also spectacular, making a number of highlight-reel stops of his own in his 42/43 save effort. Favreau’s save catalogue included a big answer on a Jordan Gibbs’ wrister cruising right down the slot, a number of Steven Kesslering chances in-tight around the net, and 12 shots against in the first overtime period.

With the win, the North Stars now lead the teams’ best-of-seven series 3-0, and sit just a single win away from advancing to the SJHL Finals, heading into Game 4 Wednesday.

Game 4 will be right back at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort, and will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

With his 44-save shutout in Game 3, North Stars goaltender Josh Kotai is now 7-1 this post-season with a 1.55 goals against average and .948 save percentage. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

In other semi-finals action in the SJHL Tuesday, the Flin Flon Bombers also topped the Humboldt Broncos 1-0 in Flin Flon, to take a 3-0 series lead in their best-of-seven showdown. Game 4 of that series will be back at Flin Flon’s Whitney Forum Wednesday.

Scoring summary

First period:

No scoring

Second period:

No scoring

Third period:

No scoring

First overtime:

No scoring

Second overtime:

4:15 BAT Kian Bell (11) ASST: Holden Doell

1-0 North Stars 2OT Final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1