North Stars charge into Melfort to face Mustangs

On the other side of things, the Melfort Mustangs have a 31-15-4 record through 51 games, and with 66 points, sit second in the Sherwood Division. Melfort is eight points back of top-spot Nipawin, with two games in hand.

Riding a five-game winning streak into play, the Mustangs have scored the third-most goals this season, averaging just over four goals per game (4.1).

Left winger Justin Ball leads the Mustangs, and sets the pace for the league scoring race, having picked up 49 goals, and 91 points in just 50 games played this season, both league-bests.

Ball’s linemate, Carson Albrecht, sits third in the scoring race, having amassed 74 points, 28 of them goals, good for the fourth best total in that regard.

Where the North Stars will need to be especially mindful of the dynamic duo is on the power play, where the tandem has combined for a total 25 goals, 26 assists with the extra man this year, leading Melfort to a league-best 23.6 per cent success rate with the power play advantage.

Although the ultimate goal will be to stay out of the box as much as possible, the North Stars, however; do rank amongst the league’s elite on the penalty kill, having successfully stymied the opposition’s power play 86.4 per cent of the time, good for the second-best proficiency on the kill this season.

The Battlefords’ team defense as a whole has also been something to write home about, with the team having given up the third-fewest goals this season, allowing just 2.84 against per game.

There will be no lineup changes for the North Stars ahead of tonight’s game.

Offensively, Owen Lamb has lead the attack for the North Stars as of late, having posted four goals, 12 points, over his last five games, with a multipoint performance in each of the contests.

Alongside Lamb on the Stars’ top line are MacGregor Sinclair and Braydon Buziak.

Sinclair leads his team in each offensive category on the campaign, with 24 goals and 37 assists, good for 61 points on the year. The 20-year-old Irma, Alta., product enters play riding the strength of a six-game scoring streak, dating back to the start of the month, having put up four goals, 11 points over the span.

Buziak, meanwhile, has potted three goals, eleven points in his last five games, scoring all but one of his goals at even-strength, a valuable commodity down the stretch and into the postseason.

On the second unit, Elijah Loon-Stewardson, who scored last game, has now produced five goals over his last six games, spearheading the secondary scoring for the Stars, and providing the team with another offensive weapon to keep opponents on edge. The elder Loon-Stewardson has now hit 15 goals on the season, as the soon-to-be 20-year-old continues to impress in just his second year with the team.

In goal, Stars’ netminder Joel Grzybowski will get the start once again tonight for the Battlefords.

Coming off a performance last night that saw Grzybowski stop 28/30 shots leading his team to victory over the Klippers, the Hafford, Sask., product will make his league-leading 40th start of the season tonight, as “Gryz,” continues to carry the workload for his team in impressive fashion, posting a .933 save percentage in Friday’s win.

The Ultra Print Pregame Show will get underway at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the Napa North Stars Broadcast on 1050 CJNB.

North Stars lineup at a glance

Forwards:

B. Buziak, M. Sinclair, O. Lamb

E. Loon-Stewardson, Q. Loon-Stewardson, R. Gil

A. Becker, B. Gammer, D. Heino

K. Boser, R. Doig, L. Spence

Defensemen:

N. Form, C. Spagrud

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

A. Shumanski, G. Johnson

Goaltenders:

J. Grzybowski

A. Dmyterko

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Photo: (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars charge into Melfort to face Mustangs

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