North Stars' centreman, Jackson Allan and Millionaires' forward, Caden Drury battle for space off a faceoff Saturday night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Saturday night heartbreaker

North Stars drop second straight in OT, with 4-3 loss to Melville

Dec 3, 2023 | 12:23 AM

For the second time in as many nights, the Battlefords North Stars felt the sting of an overtime loss on home ice, falling 4-3 to the Melville Millionaires Saturday night at the Access Communications Centre.

Brad Blake and Kian Bell each scored for the North Stars in the opening period to give the team a 2-0 lead at the end of first, with the Battlefords adding another 14 shots in a scoreless second to hold a 26-9 shot advantage at the end of 40 minutes.

In the third however, the Millionaires would answer back with a pair of power play goals, sandwiching a Medernach shorthanded marker, to get back to within a single late, on their way to two-for-seven billing with the man-advantage on the night, a key part in their comeback bid.

Back to within a single, now trailing 3-2, the Millionaires would cash in for the tying goal that doubled as an apparent back-breaker for the Stars late in regulation, off a shot from below the goal line in the left corner that somehow found its way in the net to knot the score 3-3.

Turing the tide of momentum, Melville then completed their comeback in OT, as Euan Morrison snapped home his second of the night and fourth of the year for the game winner at the 2:42 mark of the extra-time period.

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Ben Dardis started the game for the North Stars, but was pulled following the late tying goal, having allowed three goals on 14 shots. Joey Hawco made three saves on four shots in relief.

At the other end, Mills’ goaltender William Dyke was solid throughout the game, stopping 27/30 shots against to backstop his team to victory.

Despite the loss, the North Stars do pick up a single point in the league standings for a second consecutive night due to the game being decided in OT. The North Stars are now 19-7-2-1 on the season through 29 games, and remain atop the Nutrien Division and second overall in the league standings.

The North Stars will now get nine days off, before returning to action Dec. 12 on home ice against the Notre Dame Hounds.

Scoring summary

First period:

9:56 BAT Bradey Blake (12) ASST: Kian Bell 1-0 BAT

19:59 BAT Kian Bell (18) ASST: Carson Olsen 2-0 BAT

Second period:

No scoring

Third period:

0:27 MLV Euan Morrison (3) ASST: Colby Ball 2-1 BAT

5:06 BAT Josh Medernach (2) ASST: None 3-1 BAT

13:15 MLV Colby Ball (3) ASST: Flynn Maxcy, Tuck Buhay 3-2 BAT

13:58 MLV Kole Matt Kjemhus, Jadon Iyogun 3-3 Tie

Overtime:

2:42 MLV Euan Morrison (4) ASST: Tucker Buhay 4-3

4-3(OT) MLV the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1