North Stars teammates gather around goalie Logan Cunningham following Friday night's win. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Eighth straight win

Power play scoring runs wild as North Stars top Broncos in Battlefords

Jan 20, 2024 | 1:00 AM

The Battlefords North Stars extended their winning streak to eight straight Friday night at the Access Communications Centre, taking home a 5-4 victory in a wild rivalry game with the Humboldt Broncos.

Power play scoring was the name of the game for both sides through much of the night, as each team cashed for three power play goals apiece, though the North Stars’ two at even strength over the Broncos’ one, would ultimately make the difference.

Kian Bell scored two goals and added two helpers for his second straight four-point night, and Ben Portner notched two goals and three assists for his first five-point performance as a North Star. Logan Cunningham made 26 saves between the pipes, to backstop the team to victory.

Following an early power play goal by Broncos’ captain Cage Newans, Brayden Sinclair answered back for the North Stars with one of his own, to knot the score 1-1 on his 13th of the year, midway through the opening period.

Brayden Sinclair’s goal Friday gives him two in his last three games while extending his current point streak to six straight. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

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Humboldt’s Spencer Bell then re-established the Broncos’ advantage, lighting the lamp for his 25^th just eight seconds into the visitors’ second power play of the night, to make it 2-1 Broncos at the first intermission.

Portner’s first of the night came as the lone goal for either side in the second, notching his 15^th from Bell and Tanner Gold in front, as the Battlefords outshot Humboldt 18-5 in the middle frame.

For the second game in a row, the third is where the North Stars came through with their best, responding from an early Humboldt goal by Dylan Nazareth to retake the lead 3-2, with three unanswered of their own to take their first lead, and never look back.

Kian Bell – who had been helped to the dressing room after a late hit just prior to the second intermission – came back with a vengeance in the third, firing home two straight power play goals to tie the game and then establish the Stars’ with a 4-3 advantage, bringing his total to 26 goals in just 24 games this year.

Portner then added his second of the night and 16^th of the season for an insurance marker that would prove valuable as well. With the Broncos trailing by two late on a 6-on-4, Humboldt did get a goal back on their third power play marker of the night, though that is as close as they would come on their comeback bid.

Strong goaltending from Cunningham and a key shot block by Josh Medernach late kept the North Stars’ lead in tact to the final horn to secure the Stars the victory.

With the win, the North Stars are now 27-7-2-1 on the season through 37 games. With 57 points the team are now two up on third-place Melfort, and five up on fourth-place Humboldt, for second overall in the league standings.

The North Stars and Broncos will return to action for night two of their home-and-home Saturday, as the scene shifts to Humboldt. Saturday’s game 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.

Scoring summary

First period:

5:33 HUM Cage Newans (17) ASST: Spencer Bell, Matthew Van Blairicom (PP) 1-0 HUM

9:48 BAT Brayden Sinclair (13) ASST: Ben Portner, Alex Izyk (PP) 1-1 Tie

11:26 HUM Spencer Bell (25) ASST: Daylan Weigel, Jacob Strizzi (PP) 2-1 HUM

Second period:

16:15 BAT Ben Portner (15) ASST: Kian Bell, Tanner Gold 2-2 Tie

Third period:

2:20 HUM Dylan Nazareth (4) ASST: Ben Costantino, Connor Miller 3-2 HUM

3:57 BAT Kian Bell (25) ASST: Ben Portner, Alex Izyk (PP) 3-3 Tie

8:29 BAT Kian Bell (26) ASST: Alex Izyk, Ben Portner (PP) 4-3 BAT

12:59 BAT Ben Portner (16) ASST: Kian Bell 5-3 BAT

19:13 HUM Spencer Bell (26) ASST: Daylan Weigel, Boris Kofman (PP) 5-4 BAT

5-4 BAT, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1