North Stars captain Jake Southgate shares a hug with goaltender Josh Kotai following the team's 3-2 win over the Terriers, Monday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Tied for tops in Group

North Stars bounce back with 3-2 win over Portage

May 15, 2023 | 11:38 PM

Josh Kotai stopped 35 of 37 shots, and the power play came through with a pair, to lead the Battlefords North Stars to a 3-2 win over the Portage Terriers Monday night in Centennial Cup round robin play.

Steven Kesslering, Brad Blake and Jake Southgate scored for the North Stars in the win, as the team has now seen six different players chip in with at least a single goal through their first three games of the tournament.

Kesslering got the party started with his tournament-leading third to make it 1-0 late in the first period, cashing in off a goalmouth scramble assisted by Jackson Allan, to give the Stars a lead into the first intermission.

After Terriers’ forward Matt Wisener answered back with his second of the tournament on a net-drive set-up by Ryan Botterill to knot the score just 24 seconds into the middle frame, the Stars’ pair of power play goals provided the turning point in the contest.

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Blake’s first of the tournament made it 2-1 Battlefords on a quick shot from the high slot, set up off the cycle by Colby Bear and Keiton Klein, for the go-ahead goal.

Seemingly bursting the dam on the Stars’ power play struggles, Southgate’s first of the tournament also came on a man advantage opportunity just three minutes later, to give the Stars an insurance marker at 3-1 on a shot from the point through traffic while wielding around the offensive zone.

The Stars took their two-goal lead into the second intermission, and through the first half of the final frame, until Terriers’ defenceman Tayem Gislason scored his first of the week to get his team back to within a single, trailing 3-2.

Despite the setback, and the Terriers’ subsequent pressure pushing late for the tie, the Stars stood strong through the back-half of the period, continuing to roll their lines and push the pace 200 feet from their own goal to break up the Terriers’ pursuit.

With time running out in the third, Kotai made his best stop of all to secure the team’s victory, stonewalling the Terriers on a point-blank chance in front just ahead of the final buzzer to deliver the victory in regulation time for a full three points in the Group standings.

Stars teammates gather around captain Jake Southgate following his second period power play goal Monday, that would serve as the game winner on the night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

With the win, the North Stars are now 2-0-1-0 (wins-OT wins-loses-OT loses) on the tournament, moving into a tie with Portage atop their Group. The Stars have a chance to potentially clinch top spot in their Group (and a bye in the quarterfinals) with a win in their final game of the round robin Tuesday night against the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion, Steinbach Pistons.

Tuesday’s game against Steinbach will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 6:30 p.m. Saskatchewan time on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

Scoring summary

First period:

17:22 BAT Steven Kesslering (3) ASST: Jackson Allan 1-0 Stars

Second period:

0:24 POR Matt Wisener (2) ASST: Ryan Botterill, Daniel Siso 1-1 Tie

10:55 BAT Bradley Blake (1) ASST: Colby Bear, Keiton Klein (PP) 2-1 Stars

13:03 BAT Jake Southgate (1) ASST: Holden Doell, Tynan Ewart (PP) 3-1 Stars

Third period:

10:04 POR Tayem Gislason (1) ASST: Bryden Kiesman 3-2 Stars

3-2 North Stars, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1