Kian Bell (#27) scored both North Stars' goals Monday, and now sits tied for the league lead in both goals (eight) and points (15) in just seven games these playoffs. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Trail series 3-0

North Stars fall 5-2 in Game 3, as season now hangs in the balance

Apr 9, 2024 | 12:04 AM

The Battlefords North Stars fell 5-2 to the Flin Flon Bombers Monday, in Game 3 of the teams’ semi-final playoff series.

A 2-2 game through two periods, it was three unanswered in the third that led Flin Flon to victory, from Carter Anderson, Noah Houle, and Justin Lies, the latter of which was the Bombers’ captain’s second of the night.

Kian Bell scored both North Stars’ goals, each coming on the power play, for his seventh and eighth of the playoffs, tied for most in the league this post-season with the aforementioned Lies.

“I thought we were right in it to the third period, and then having that four-minute power play not work out was obviously a tough one, so it didn’t go our way tonight,” North Stars’ assistant coach, Garry Childerhose said postgame. “It’s all on the line tomorrow night now, so we’ve just got to find a way to win tomorrow night to keep our season going here.”

North Stars’ goaltender Logan Cunningham made another 40 saves in the contest, bringing his total to 136 saves through the first three games of the series. Flin Flon’s Harmon Laser-Hume stopped 27/29 to bring his total to 79 saves through the three games, by contrast.

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“Cunny’s been really good all playoffs, all series for us, keeping us in with some big saves, and tonight was no different,” Childerhose said. “We’re going to need everybody tomorrow night as we lay it all on the line.”

Game 4 Tuesday night from the Access Communications Centre will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast.

Scoring summary

First period:

3:17 FF Koen Senft (2) ASST: Alexi Sylvestre, Jacob Vockler 1-0 FF

13:30 BAT Kian Bell (7) ASST: Carson Olsen, Jordan Grill (PP) 1-1 Tie

13:52 FF Justin Lies (7) ASST: Noah Houle, Alexi Sylvestre (PP) 2-1 FF

Second period:

4:26 BAT Kian Bell (8) ASST: Alex Izyk, Ben Portner (PP) 2-2 Tie

Third period:

5:07 FF Carter Anderson (4) ASST: Koen Senft 3-2 FF

6:13 FF Noah Houle (1) ASST: Tyson Smith 4-2 FF

15:46 FF Justin Lies (8) ASST: Alexi Sylvestre, Cole Tanchuk 5-2 FF

5-2 FF, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1