The Battlefords North Stars have lost each of their last three games by a 3-2 score, but have picked up at least a single point in two of the three. With the loss, the Stars are now 26-4-2 on the season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Overtime heartbreak

North Stars fall in third straight, 3-2 to Klippers in OT

Dec 6, 2019 | 11:38 PM

The Battlefords North Stars fell 3-2 in overtime to the division-rival, Kindersley Klippers Friday night at the Civic Centre.

For the Stars, the loss serves as the team’s third straight, with each of the three coming by a 3-2 count; and two of the three in overtime.

Klippers’ goalie, Matt Sankner willed his team to victory on the night, stopping 40 of the North Stars’ 42 shots for the win. Forward Liam Fraser, who entered play as Kindersley’s leader in both goals and points, added a pair on the evening and rearguard Brendon Borbely scored the game winner on the evening to cap the night in overtime.

For the Stars, Seth Summers and Austin Becker each contributed power play goals, while goaltender, Parker Rey stopped 27 of 30 Kindersley shots in the loss.

Fraser’s first of the night opened the scoring just 8:30 into the first period. Receiving a relay feed from linemate, Scott McKenzie down low, Fraser then cut to the front of the Battlefords’ goal to slip a shot home in tight and make it 1-0 Klippers.

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Frasers’ 17^th of the season, the goal was the lone tally from the opening frame, despite 26 shots between the two teams (a 14-12 Stars’ shot advantage).

But the Stars did break through in the second period.

Summers cashed in on a beautiful power play goal at the 8:34 mark to balance the score, 1-1.

The goal marked the blue liner’s sixth of the season and came as the final touch on a tick-tack-toe play that saw Matthew Fletcher feed Quintin Loon-Stewardson down low, who then in turn passed to Summers for the tuck home in front of the crease.

The game did not remain tied for long however. Just 25 seconds later, Kindersley struck back, again thanks to Fraser.

This time ripping his 18^th of the year off the pipe and in from the slot, Fraser’s second of the night closed out the scoring for the middle period at 2-1 Klippers.

In the third, Becker capitalized on the Stars’ second power play goal of the night. After defenceman, Dylan McCabe’s initial one-timer from the blue line was stopped, Becker deposited the rebound to knot the game again, 2-2.

With no more scoring though the regulation time period, the game was destined for overtime.

In OT, Borbely’s sixth ended the night in favour of the Klippers, when the defenceman wristed one high short-side from the high slot for the deciding tally.

The Stars’ loss comes despite outshooting Kindersley 42-30 on the night.

The Battlefords will now look to avenge their defeat Saturday night, when the teams meet again in Kindersley for the back-half of their home-and-home this weekend.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

1-0 KIN Liam Fraser (17) ASST: Scott McKenzie (17), 8:30

Second period:

1-1 BAT Seth Summers (6) ASST: Quintin Loon-Stewardson (17), Matthew Fletcher (23) (PP), 8:34

2-1 KIN Liam Fraser (18) ASST: Scott McKenzie (18), 8:59

Third period:

2-2 BAT Austin Becker (13) ASST: Dylan McCabe (11), Jaxon Steele (3) (PP), 5:57

Overtime:

3-2 KIN Brendon Borbely (6) ASST: Scott McKenzie (19) 1:37

3-2 Klippers, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1