(L-R): Team captains, Jake Southgate and Ben Tkachuk talk with the officials. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

First loss of season

North Stars fall in shootout to Melfort

Oct 15, 2022 | 12:18 AM

The Battlefords North Stars fell 2-1 to Melfort in a shootout Friday, serving as the team’s first loss of the season.

Goalies, Josh Kotai (26/27 saves for the Stars) and Joel Favreau (35/36 saves for the Mustangs) stole the show, combining for 61 saves on 63 total shots between the two sides on the night.

Steven Kesslering scored the Stars’ lone goal of the evening, while Aidyn Hutchinson rang in the Mustangs’ single tally of regulation, and Riley Ashe added the shootout winner for the visitors.

Hutchinson’s fourth of the year opened the scoring with just 1:57 to go in the first period.

Cashing in on a Ben Tkachuk pass from the left corner just in front of the crease, the big forward showed deft touch to deflect the puck through the wickets on the Stars’ netminder, to make it 1-0 Melfort at the first intermission.

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After a scoreless second period, Kesslering’s ninth knotted things up on a rebound conversion generated off a Jordan Gibbs shot from the point to make it 1-1 just over two and-a-half minutes into the third.

Coming on the power play, Kesslering’s goal was his ninth of the year – in just nine games – to pull him even with teammate, Keiton Klein for the team lead.

Despite some chances late, and into the overtime period, five minutes of sudden death OT would solve nothing, leading to a shootout to decide the winner.

In the penalty-shot relay, Riley Ashe was the lone shooter from either side to score, converting for the winner on a quick backhand-forehand move in tight, over the blocker-hand to snap the Mustangs’ four game skid, and hand the Stars their first loss of the season.

The Stars still pick up a single point in the standings with the overtime loss, and are now 10-0-1 to open the year, with a league-leading 21 points.

The team will look for a quick bounce back in their return to play Saturday, again on home ice against the visiting, Estevan Bruins.

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

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1