Not much separated the North Stars and Bombers in their weekend back-to-backs, as the teams spent all but the final 3:14 of Saturday's contest separated by just a single goal or fewer over the two games. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Down to the Wire

North Stars fall 4-2 in rematch with Bombers

Jan 28, 2024 | 1:24 AM

The Battlefords North Stars threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Flin Flon goal Saturday night at Battleford Arena, but for the second time in as many nights came up just short against the SJHL-leading Bombers.

This time a 4-2 Flin Flon final, much like Friday’s overtime finish, the game remained a back-and-forth contest full of physicality, right down to the wire.

Carter Anderson opened the scoring late in the first period, on a slick move driving the front of the net for his 28^th of the season, to make it 1-0 Bombers with his first of two on the night.

The lone goal through the first 39 minutes, the North Stars did answer back in the final minute of the second period, after firing 15 of their eventual 38 shots on the night at the Bombers’ net.

Ben Portner’s 23^rd of the season, and 13^th goal in his last seven games, knotted the score 1-1, finishing an Alex Izyk rebound passed cross-crease from linemate Kian Bell.

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A 1-1 game into the third, Carter Anderson’s second of the game and 29^th of the year made it 2-1 Flin Flon in the opening minutes of the final frame, before the Battlefords once again answered to knot the score just four minutes later.

This time Izyk’s 12^th of the season things up, faking the forward defending him at the blue line, to open a shooting lane and wrist home the 2-2 marker.

The game remained tied until the final six minutes, when Bombers’ captain Justin Lies spun around to fire home his league-leading 32^nd of the year, followed by a Koen Senft tally late on an odd-man rush out of the penalty box, to stretch the visitors’ lead to 4-2.

The 4-2 goal also marked the first time over the two games this weekend either side ever held more than a single goal lead.

Logan Cunningham made 29 saves on 33 shots in the Battlefords’ crease, while Harmon Laser-Hume went 36/38 for the Bombers.

The loss snaps the North Stars’ 16-game point streak, though the team remain second overall in the league standings, five points up on third-place Melfort.

The North Stars will now get the better part of a week off, before returning to play next weekend for back-to-backs Friday and Saturday against La Ronge in North Battleford.

Next weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcasts will be available on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop at 7:30 p.m. both nights.

Scoring summary

First period:

18:42 FF Carter Anderson (28) ASST: None 1-0 FF

Second period:

19:00 BAT Ben Portner (23) ASST: Alex Izyk, Kian Bell 1-1 Tie

Third period:

2:25 FF Carter Anderson (29) ASST: None 2-1 FF

6:15 BAT Alex Izyk (12) ASST: Ben Portner, Josh Karman 2-2 Tie

14:00 FF Justin Lies (32) ASST: Anthony Piccininno, Riley Niven 3-2 FF

16:46 FF Koen Senft (7) ASST: Justin Lies 4-2 FF

4-2 FF, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1