The Stars top line of Kian Bell, Holden Doell, and Jake Southgate has gone head-to-head against the Wings' trio of Ryley Morgan, Jackson Hassman and Ty Mason often through the first three games of the series. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Lead best-of-seven 2-1

Stars aim for series stranglehold in Game 4, in Weyburn

Mar 22, 2023 | 3:08 PM

Fresh off a 3-0 victory in game three a night ago to take a 2-1 series lead, the Battlefords North Stars return to play in Weyburn Wednesday for game four of their first-round best-of-seven matchup with the Weyburn Red Wings.

Josh Kotai and Tynan Ewart led the way for the Stars in their game three win, as Kotai made 34 saves for his first career playoff shutout, while Ewart scored a goal and was dominant at both ends of the rink throughout, from the blue line position.

Now with a chance to take a series stranglehold heading into game four, North Stars’ head coach Brayden Klimosko said the key is not letting up, and continuing to bring that same determination as a group.

“I thought we had a good game last night, and played hard for 60 minutes,” Klimosko said. “We are going to need a similar performance as last night, as I expect Weyburn to come out hard in the first to really try and get the crowd into it.”

He may not have scored a goal in game three, but North Stars’ forward Colby Bear was a force for the team, winning puck battles, controlling play down low and back-checking hard throughout the night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

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Evan Waldie’s goal, that served as the game-winner on the night, was the ultimate difference marker for the Battlefords in game three, serving as the first goal of the series from either team’s fourth line.

“It’s a big one from Waldie, and we need our depth if we want to win games and series,” Klimosko said. “They did a tremendous job last night.”

The North Stars will stand pat with their lineup Wednesday, sticking with the same group they have through the opening three games.

At the other end, Weyburn captain Matthew Reidy will serve the final game of his two-game suspension for charging for his hit on Holden Doell in game two, that led to a 5:00 major and game misconduct at the time.

Weyburn did see a shuffle of their lines Tuesday night, shifting forward Matteo Turin from the right wing to centre on the second line to go heavy down the middle of the ice within their top-six, with Jackson Hassman (6-2, 202 pounds), followed by Turin (6-5, 235 pounds) at the pivot position.

The Wings will be looking for some sort of offensive contribution from those outside their top line, as the team still has yet to score a single goal at even strength, with three of their five total on the series scored by the top unit of Ryley Morgan, Jackson Hassman, and Ty Mason (one goal each). The other two have come from defencemen Blake Norris and Nolan Henderson.

Through three games, the series has featured an epic goaltender dual, as Josh Kotai and Dazza Mitchell have both been nothing short of superb between the pipes.

Kotai, coming off the 34-save blank-slate, enters game four with a 1.69 goals against average and .948 save percentage overall on the series.

Mitchell has been the ultimate equalizer, keeping his team in the series throughout. The Wings’ netminder is coming off a 43/45 save effort Tuesday that included another number of 10-bell stops, including on breakaway chances for both Kian Bell and Brad Blake, as well as another incredible stop on a Bell one-timer.

Mitchell has stopped 39, 39, and 43 shots through the first three games of the series, for a 2.72 goals against average and .938 save percentage this postseason.

Wednesday night’s game four will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

The full first round schedule between the North Stars and Red Wings is available here.

In other game four action across the SJHL, Nipawin host Humboldt (HUM lead series 2-1), Estevan host Flin Flon (FF lead series 2-1); and La Ronge host Melfort (LAR lead series 2-1).

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1