North Stars teammates swarm around captain Tanner Gold following the defenceman's overtime winner, Friday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Overtiiiiime Thriller

North Stars take ninth straight with OT victory in La Ronge

Nov 18, 2023 | 12:33 AM

The Battlefords North Stars extended their league-high winning streak to nine straight Friday night, with a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over the La Ronge Ice Wolves, in La Ronge.

Five different players scored for the North Stars in the win, as each of Riley Girod, Jordan Grill, Alex Izyk, and Jackson Allan cashed in for the team through regulation time, before captain Tanner Gold’s fourth of the season to win it in 3-on-3 overtime.

Following a scoreless first period that saw the North Stars fire 18 shots on goal, the Battlefords did break through with the opening goal in the second, when Riley Girod fired home his eighth of the year to make it 1-0.

North Stars forwards Riley Girod (left) and Rylan Williams (middle) are joined by teammates to celebrate following their line’s opening goal Friday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Grill’s fifth of the season then added an insurance marker to make it 2-0 Battlefords on a power play goal just passed the midway mark, to put the team ahead by a pair.

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However, the lead would not last long. Kale Taylor answered back for La Ronge on a power play marker of his own just a minute later, before Parker Layton knotted the score in the final 6.5 seconds of the frame to make it 2-2 at the end of 40 minutes.

Midway through the third, Izyk’s fourth of the season put the North Stars back in front, 3-2, extending his team-high point streak to nine straight. Though again the Ice Wolves would answer with their first of two tying goals in the third, this one from captain Liam McInnis to make it 3-3.

Allan’s seventh again re-established the North Stars’ lead at 4-3 – a lead they would hold until the final 1:30 of play – when Raine Hodge deposited his sixth on a back-door play to force overtime.

Gold’s winner came just 23 seconds into the sudden death period, challenging the forward back defending him with a quick move and shot that deflected off the end boards, off the goalie, and in to win the game.

In goal, Justen Maric stopped 18-of-22 La Ronge shots to backstop the North Stars in the win, while Ice Wolves’ starter Topher Chirico kept his team in it throughout the night with 44 saves on 49 shots.

With the victory, the North Stars improve to 15-6-0-1 and continue their ascent up the league standings, leapfrogging Humboldt into second overall with 31 points, now just

The North Stars will return to action Saturday night in La Ronge in search of a tenth straight. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast 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.

Scoring summary

First period:

No scoring

Second period:

6:11 BAT Riley Girod (8) ASST: Jackson Allan 1-0 BAT

10:53 BAT Jordan Grill (5) ASST: Carson Olsen (PP) 2-0 BAT

11:16 LAR Kale Taylor (3) ASST: Liam McInnis (PP) 2-1 BAT

19:54 LAR Parker Layton (6) ASST: Jacob Hufty, Liam McInnis 2-2 Tie

Third period:

9:24 BAT Alex Izyk (4) ASST: Colton Getzlaff 3-2 BAT

LAR Liam McInnis (5) ASST: Kale Taylor, Parker Layton 3-3 Tie

BAT Jackson Allan (7) ASST: Rylan Williams 4-3 BAT

LAR Raine Hodge (6) ASST: Rylan Silzer 4-4 Tie

Overtime:

0:23 Tanner Gold (4) ASST: Ben Portner 5-4 BAT

5-4 BAT, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1