North Stars teammates gather around goaltender, Logan Cunningham to celebrate following Saturday night's 2-1 victory in Game 2. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

2-0 series lead

Commitment to defence leads North Stars to Game 2 win

Mar 24, 2024 | 2:49 AM

For the second time in as many nights, the Battlefords North Stars held Melville to just a single goal Saturday, to take a down to the wire 2-1 win in Game 2 of their first round playoff series, in North Battleford.

Keeping the packed crowd of nearly 1,300 on the edge of their seats to the final horn, the win gives the North Stars a 2-0 series lead in their best-of-seven showdown with the Millionaires, once again earned through guts, grit, and determination.

“I thought it was a relentless effort from our group, and an all-heart victory,” North Stars’ assistant coach, Garry Childerhose said postgame. “We had all-hands-on-deck and we were ready to go. Melville is a hard-nosed, hard-working team, and to beat them you’ve got to match their compete, match their effort and sacrifice and I thought we really did that tonight.”

North Stars’ goaltender Logan Cunningham took centre stage in the victory for a second straight night, making 27 saves on 28 Melville shots, having now allowed just two goals total through the first two games of the series, while stopping 58-of-60 Millionaires’ shots in the process.

Brad Blake opened the scoring for the Battlefords late in the first period, on a pinpoint wrister for a power play snipe, with under two minutes to go in the opening frame.

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Brad Blake has been a force for the North Stars through the first two games of the series, scoring Saturday night and playing with bite and tenacity throughout. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Blue liner Alex Izyk then brought the home crowd back to their feet again with applause, scoring his first of the playoffs midway through the second, jumping up during 4-on-4 play to snap home the 2-0 insurance marker.

Much like Game 1, the Millionaires would answer back from down two to cut the deficit in half – and also much like Game 1 – it was once again Luc Bydal who scored for the team. This time coming late in the second, the tally set up heightened dramatics for the third period, in a 2-1 game.

After giving up just three power plays apiece through 40 minutes, a mix of undisciplined play and unfortunate circumstance for the North Stars saw the team take six minor penalties in the third, leading to a lengthy 5-on-3 for Melville late, turning to a 6-on-3 with the goalie pulled.

Despite the setback, the North Stars managed to kill off the entirety of the penalty time, to finish 7-for-7 on the penalty kill on the night, led by a valiant effort on the three-man kill by the trio of Josh Medernach, Tanner Gold, and Alex Izyk.

The North Stars will take their 2-0 series lead onto the road for Games 3 and 4, Tuesday and Wednesday night in Melville. Both games will be available on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

In other Game 2 action around the SJHL Saturday, the #1 Flin Flon Bombers topped the #8 Kindersley Klippers 8-0 (FF now lead series 2-0); the #2 Mefort Mustangs beat the #7 Estevan Bruins 7-4 (MLF now leads series 2-0); and the #3 Humboldt Broncos defeated the #6 Weyburn Red Wings 7-4 (HUM now leads series 2-0)

Scoring summary

First period:

18:47 BAT Brad Blake (1) ASST: Kian Bell, Ben Portner (PP) 1-0 BAT

Second period:

9:53 BAT Alex Izyk (1) ASST: Brayden Sinclair, Carson Olsen 2-0 BAT

18:12 MLV Luc Bydal (2) ASST: Caden Drury, Colby Ball 2-1 BAT

Third period:

No scoring

2-1 BAT, the final

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1