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Josh Medernach of the North Stars sets a screen Friday night against Broncos' goalie Benjamin Motew (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)
Night two of home-and-home

North Stars aim for ninth straight as scene shifts to Humboldt

Jan 20, 2024 | 3:33 PM

Coming off a wild 5-4 victory over the Humboldt Broncos to open the weekend on home ice, the Battlefords North Stars return to to the road Saturday night in Humboldt, for night two of the teams’ home-and-home weekend series.

The North Stars enter play first in the Nutrien Division and second overall in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings with a 27-7-2-1 record through 37 games. With 57 points, the Stars now sit just five back of first-place Flin Flon, having won eight straight heading into Saturday’s contest.

Humboldt is second in the division and fourth overall with a 24-9-3-1 record through 37 games. With 52 points, the Broncos sit just two back of third-place Melfort, and five back of the North Stars. The team will be looking to bounce back from last night’s one-goal defeat, and snap a two-game skid (0-1-1-0).

The North Stars will be without leading scorer, Kian Bell heading into Saturday’s rematch, as the dynamic winger is day-to-day after taking a late hit Friday, late in the second period. After leaving the game temporarily, Bell did return to score two goals and one of his two assists on the night, in the third period.

With another monster four-point performance Friday (two goals, two assists), Kian Bell took sole possession of the league scoring lead for the first time this season, with an astonishing 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in just 24 games played. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

In Bell’s absence, Brayden Sinclair, who scored Friday and enters play on a six-game point streak, will elevate to the top line left wing alongside Ben Porter and Brad Blake. Portner is coming off a career-high five-point night, and enters the evening as the hottest player in the SJHL, with 11 points over his last three games.

Humboldt’s Spencer Bell led his team’s efforts Friday and enters play red-hot in his own right, coming off a two-goal, three-point night to extend his current goal and point streaks to five straight. Spencer Bell is now third in league scoring with 54 points in 36 games.

Special teams played a massive role in the weekend opener, with both teams scoring three power play goals apiece. The Broncos now sit second in the SJHL on the power play (24.9 percent) and third on the penalty kill (81.4 percent), while the North Stars are fourth on the man advantage (22.8 percent) and fifth on the PK (80.2 percent).

In goal, the North Stars are expected to start Matthew MacArthur, after Logan Cunningham got the nod to open the weekend. MacArthur is 2-0-0-0 with the Stars this season, with a 1.50 goals against average and .950 save percentage.

Humboldt are also expected to change it up in goal and tap Aiden Fischer, after Benjamin Motew started Friday. In 14 games, Fischer is 9-3-1-0 with a 2.97 goals against average and .921 save percentage.

Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1