Stars’ forward, Kaden Boser has never been shy about introducing himself to the opposition. The Battlefords will need that spark and bite Saturday night, as the team will face the Bombers shorthanded due to injury. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Seeking revenge

Stars look for bounce-back in final meeting with Bombers

Feb 15, 2020 | 2:30 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to action Saturday night at the Whitney Forum for part two of their weekend back-to-back with the Flin Flon Bombers, to close out the season-series between the two sides.

The North Stars (42-9-2) enter play in top spot of the league standings with 86 points, while Flin Flon (34-12-5) sit second with 73 points.

The Battlefords lead the season-series 3-2 heading into the sixth installment, but will be looking to bounce back from Friday night’s 6-1 loss to the Bombers. Despite the defeat, the Stars remain the hottest team in the league over their last 10 games with an 8-2 record over the span, while Flin Flon sit just back at 7-3.

The Bombers’ big guns led the way for their team Friday, as Donavan Houle Villeneuve, Alec Malo and Mason Martin were among the goal scorers for their team, while Cole Rafuse and Tristan Lemyre also added multipoint efforts in the win.

Flin Flon enter Saturday’s contest with four of the top seven scorers in the league, and six of the top fourteen, overall.

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Through 51 games as a team, Malo’s 85 points lead the club, just ahead of Rafuse’s 82, while Houle Villeneuve has scored 60 points, Lemyre has 57 and Easton and Chase Hagarth have scored 51 points apiece.

The Stars’ will look to limit the time and space of the Bombers’ weapons while playing short two men Saturday, as forwards Jaxon Steele and Carson Reagan will join the growing list of Stars sidelined due to injury.

Missing Rylan Nivon, Quintin Loon-Stewardson, Steven Kesslering, Steele and Reagan, the North Stars will be forced to dress just 10 forwards, including Liam Antoniuk, who will move from the blue line position, up front to help fill in.

While the shorthanded bench will undoubtedly bring an additional level of difficulty to the fold, the Stars will rely on an ‘all hands on deck,’ mentality to find success Saturday.

Veteran forwards Ben Hiltz, Matthias Urbanski and Elijah Loon-Stewardson will be leaned on heavily to lead the way on both special teams units, along with leading scorer Austin Becker, who’s likely been the hottest North Star of late with four goals over his last five games.

Youngsters Ryland McNinch and Hunter Partsch will be given key roles and additional minutes to make an impact in top nine positions, while Kaden Boser, Dylan Esau and Logan Spence provide additional intangibles and versatility on both sides of the puck.

Despite the shortage of available bodies at forward, the North Stars’ defence remains intact with six mobile skaters able to assert themselves in the play offensively.

Matthew Fletcher and Seth Summers are tied for second in blue line scoring this season with 45 points apiece, while Noah Form sits fifth with 34 points. Dylan McCabe, who has been a two-way rock for the team throughout the season, was perhaps the Stars’ best defender Friday, and has picked up 21 points in his own right this year.

Much like the youngsters up front, Timon Prexler and Walter Somers will likely be leaned on for additional minutes due to the added offensive burden placed on the Stars’ blue line, and fast paced tempo expected against the high-flying Bombers.

As expected, special teams did play a part in Friday’s contest, and could very well do so again.

The Bombers went 2-for-5 on the man advantage to stretch the game out, while the North Stars scored their lone goal of the night on the power play as well, despite having just two power play opportunities on the evening.

Adam Dmyterko will get the start between the pipes for the Battlefords, making just his second start of the month. Dmyterko has been a game-breaker for the Stars in goal this season with a 14-3 record to go along with a 2.56 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

For Flin Flon, Jacob Delorme is expected to make his second start in as many nights, after getting the win Friday. Delorme has posted a 22-10 record this season, along with a 3.05 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.

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

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1