Ben Portner registered two goals and an assist in the third period Saturday, to spearhead the North Stars' comeback versus Notre Dame. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars take sixth straight

Portner, Cunningham lead North Stars to 6-2 triumph over Hounds

Jan 14, 2024 | 1:17 AM

The Battlefords North Stars saved their best for the third period Saturday night at the Access Communications Centre, scoring five of their six unanswered goals in the final frame, to come back from a 2-0 deficit early and top the Notre Dame Hounds 6-2.

Goaltender, Logan Cunningham was incredibly sharp throughout the night, making 42 saves to backstop the team, while Ben Portner (two goals, one assist), Brad Blake (one goal, two assists), and Brayden Sinclair (one goal, one assist) each registered multi-point games to propel the team’s offense.

Despite a four-goal differential by the end of the night, Saturday’s game was anything but smooth sailing for the Battlefords. A 2-0 Notre Dame lead by the opening minutes of the second period, the Hounds’ held a decisive 40-25 shot advantage through 40 minutes, with Cunningham’s goaltending keeping his team afloat until they could battle back as the night progressed.

Sinclair’s 12^th of the season cut the deficit to 2-1 midway through the second, setting the stage for an epic third period onslaught, that would see the North Stars shine.

Alex Izyk knotted the score 2-2 with a highlight-reel deke and finish, dancing blue-line in on goal, before reaching around the goaltender to tuck the puck home inside the post for his ninth of the year.

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Portner then added his two back-to-back, cashing in for a 5-on-3 power play goal off the rebound of a Tanner Gold one-timer, and a follow-up insurance marker set up by Easton Rask and Blake, to give the Stars a 4-2 advantage and bring his goal total to 12 on the season for the two-way standout.

Blake’s 14^th sealed the night’s victory into the empty net capping his three-point effort, followed by Hunter Burgeson’s second in as many games – and ninth of the season – to put the cherry on top of the 6-2 win.

Perhaps best encapsulating the North Stars’ dominance down the stretch was a 21-4 shot advantage in the third period, to end the night outshooting the Hounds by a 46-44 margin.

Saturday marked Red Pheasant/Battlefords’ local, Treycen Wuttunee’s first game donning the North Stars’ crest, with fans welcoming him back to town at the ACC. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

With the victory, the North Stars extend their winning streak to six straight and improve to 25-7-2-1 on the season through 35 games. Now tied with Melfort with 53 points, the Stars leapfrog the Mustangs into second overall in the league standings, still holding three games in-hand.

The North Stars will now get a few nights off, before returning to home ice Wednesday night to play the Estevan Bruins. Wednesday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars 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:

17:20 ND Jacob Lundeen (7) ASST: None 1-0 ND

Second period:

4:25 ND Matteo Speranza (10 ASST: Alexander Hollands, Liam Hunks 2-0 ND

9:42 BAT Brayden Sinclair (12) ASST: Hunter Burgeson, Elijah Anderson 2-1 ND

Third period:

3:42 BAT Alex Izyk (9) ASST: Brayden Sinclair 2-2 Tie

11:52 Ben Portner (11) ASST: Brad Blake, Tanner Gold 3-2 BAT

15:47 Ben Portner (12) ASST: Easton Rask, Brad Blake 4-2 BAT

18:12 Brad Blake (14) ASST: Ben Portner (EN) 5-2 BAT

19:57 BAT Hunter Burgeson (9) ASST: Josh Karman 6-2 BAT

6-2 BAT, the final

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1