North Stars even up the series with a 3-1 win over the Yorkton Terriers

Zawatsky took a penalty in the last second of the first period, so the North Stars started the second on the man advantage. Their best chance came when Finlay Klippenstein had an empty net, but he double touched the puck on the shot and missed the net.

The North Stars got another power play opportunity later in the period and another chance on an empty net with Callum Creig out of position, but Anthony Campbell hit the crossbar, and it stayed a one-goal game after 40 minutes.

After two: 1-0 Terriers

With Creig stopping all 18 shots he saw in the first two periods, it seemed that the North Stars would need a perfect shot to get one past him. Klippenstein gave them exactly that.

At 9:58, Klippenstein walked around Riley Cormier on the left side to get on a quick two-on-one with Campbell. Klippenstein scored low glove past Creig to tie it up at 1-1.

Klippenstein wasn’t done.

At 14:02, Klippenstein deflected Campbell’s shot on net from the edge of the crease. Creig made the initial save, but Klippenstein grabbed the rebound and slid it past an out of position Creig to put the North Stars up 2-1 in the final minutes of the game.

After Campbell took a hooking call with 3:08 left to go in the game, the Terriers had a shot to tie it up.

They pulled the goalie during the power play to make it six on four, but the North Stars took advantage. After clearing the zone, Josh Knittig got the puck in the neutral zone and fired it into the empty net to double the lead for the North Stars and seal the game with their third goal of the period.

Final score: 3-1 North Stars

Series: Tied 1-1

Klippenstein (2G-1A) and Knittig (1G-2A) both had three point nights for the North Stars.

Knittig has been indisputably the best player in the playoffs across the league, leading the SJHL in goals (6), assists (9) and points (15). Knittig’s 15 points in seven games put him at a 2.14 point per game pace.

Klippenstein’s three-point game propelled him into a tie with Terriers forward Gabriel Courchesne for second place in the league in points with 11 (4G-7A).

The North Stars head back to North Battleford to play games three and four during the week. Game three will be on April 7 when the North Stars look to take a 2-1 series lead. Napa Auto Parts North Stars hockey is at 7:30, Ultra Print pregame show half an hour before puck drop on CJNB/CJNS.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by Ryan Lambert

North Stars even up the series with a 3-1 win over the Yorkton Terriers

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