Forwards Holden Doell and Ben Tkachuk saw a lot of each other Tuesday night, as top-line on top-line has been the matchup with the series-shift to Melfort. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW)

By Martin Martinson

Lead series 3-0

Stars with chance to advance to league finals in Game 4

Apr 5, 2023 | 2:58 PM

Less than 24 hours after their thrilling double overtime victory in Game 3 that took the contest late into the night, the Battlefords North Stars now have a chance to punch their ticket to the SJHL Finals, in Melfort for Game 4 Wednesday.

Tuesday’s win gave the North Stars a 3-0 series lead in the team’s best-of-seven with the Mustangs, marking the first overtime for the Battlefords these playoffs. The win also carried over a trend from a tight regular season series that saw three-of-five games between the two sides go to OT, with the road team winning each time.

Now just a win away from advancing to the championship series, head coach of the North Stars Brayden Klimosko said it’s important for the group to stay in the moment and not look past the game in front of them.

“We are going to need our best effort of the series so far tonight,” Klimosko said. “[It would] be nice to finish it off, but it won’t be easy and we know that. We just have to worry about ourselves.”

Though much has been made – and rightfully so – about the dynamic offense the Stars possess (averaging a league-high 4.5 goals per-game these playoffs). But it was the team’s stingy defense that took centre stage in Game 3.

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Josh Kotai’s 44-save shutout led the way for the Stars, along with huge minutes from blue line anchors Tynan Ewart, Jordan Gibbs, and Tanner Gold, and a trio of big penalty kills in overtime.

Through the first three games of the series, the Stars have limited the Mustangs to just three goals total, while outscoring them 13-3 in the process. On the playoffs, the Stars’ 1.63 goals against per game (13 allowed in eight games) are also best in the league.

Up front, the North Stars will see their first lineup changes of the playoffs, following last night’s extended contest.

Rookie forwards Marshall Light and Owen Underhill will check into the line-up on line four, along with defenseman Easton Rask who moves up to left-wing. The three step in for veteran centre Emmett Wurst, who will miss Game 4 with a lower-body injury, Evan Waldie, and Riley Girod.

Jordan Grill, who was on the fourth line, elevates to the third, alongside two-way duo Colby Bear and Keiton Klein.

In goal, Kotai and Mustangs’ netminder Joel Favreau will once again dual in the crease. The two stole the show in Game 3, keeping the night’s action scoreless for more than an hour and 24 minutes of game time, prior to Kian Bell’s 1-0 winner.

Kotai is 7-1 this post-season, with a 1.55 goals against average and .948 save percentage. Favreau is 4-3-2 with a 2.48 goals against, and .913 save percentage.

Wednesday’s Game 4 will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

In other SJHL semi-finals action, the Flin Flon Bombers also have a chance to close out their best-of-seven with the Humboldt Broncos in Game 4 in Flin Flon Wednesday.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1