Kobie Anderson of the North Stars locks up with Euan Morrison of the Millionaires on a faceoff during series play. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Up 3-0

North Stars look to close out series in Game 4 in Melville

Mar 27, 2024 | 1:38 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to the ice Wednesday night in Melville, for Game 4 of their first-round playoff series with the Melville Millionaires, just a win away from advancing to the SJHL semi-finals.

Leading the best-of-seven series 3-0 after Tuesday’s resilient comeback win, head coach, Brayden Klimosko said the key to finishing the job Wednesday night will be building on Game 3’s finish, to come out firing from puck drop.

“I think for 50 minutes we were pretty good – in the first 10 we struggled a little – but after that I thought we played some really good hockey and we were able to pull one out late there,” Klimosko said. “We’ve just got to be better in the first 10 minutes, and if we can do that, everything else will fall into place.”

Tuesday’s Game 3 victory marked the first time in the series a team has battled back to win after falling behind with the opening goal.

Despite what’s been an extremely tight-checking first three games, North Stars’ forward, and Game 3 hero, Kian Bell now leads the SJHL playoff scoring race with a league-high five goals and 10 points through three games, coming off his three-goal, five-point performance a night ago.

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On the series, the North Stars offence as a whole has progressed, with now six different players having contributed at least a single goal so far through three games. In addition to Bell, Ben Portner and Elijah Anderson both also scored Tuesday, along with a two-assist game from Brad Blake to facilitate the offence.

Melville, who returned home with just a single goal scorer through the opening two games (Luc Bydal, who had scored their first two goals of the series), also saw an expanded offensive contribution in Game 3, with each of Bradley Banach, Hudson Norris and Eliott Mikesch adding their first of the post-season. That scoring depth is something the Mills will need to continue to keep pace with the Battlefords in Game 4 and extend the series.

Game 4 Wednesday night, 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.

In other Game 4 playoff action around the SJHL Wednesday, the #8 Kindersley Klippers host the #1 Flin Flon Bombers (FF leads series 3-0); the #7 Estevan Bruins host the #2 Melfort Mustangs (MLF leads series 2-1); and the #6 Weyburn Red Wings host the #3 Humboldt Broncos (HUM leads series 2-1).

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1