North Stars battle Mustangs the distance, but fall in OT

Logan Belton opened the scoring for Melfort on just the second Mustangs’ shot, 6:06 into the first, marking the seventh goal the Stars have allowed in the opening six minutes (and change) of a game on their current five-game skid.

“Honestly, we’re probably a save away from winning both [games this weekend], and sooner or later we can’t get out-goaltended every night,” Klimosko said postgame. “Not saying [our goalies] were bad, but at this point when we’re struggling and working hard to get out of it, we just need them at times to make some key saves to give us a chance. Hopefully we can get that this week.”

It remained a 1-0 Mustangs’ lead into the final minutes of the first, when Jordan Grill tied the game on his 10^th of the season, and first of two on the night. However, the celebration would be short-lived, with Melfort’s Aidyn Hutchinson answering right back to make it 2-1 Mustangs with just 1:30 to go in the opening frame.

In the second, North Stars’ captain Tanner Gold then pulled his team even again on a slick feed from Kian Bell for his 10^th of the year to make it a new game just six minutes in, turning the tide of momentum and seemingly breathing new life into the building.

Melfort’s Rhett Hamilton and Battlefords’ Elijah Anderson then also traded a goal apiece late in the middle period, to make it a 3-3 game through 40 minutes.

Clay Sleeva again put the Mustangs in front just 14 seconds into the third, beating Matthew MacArthur on his first shot faced, after replacing Logan Cunningham who was pulled after allowing three goals on 16 shots.

Grill’s second of the game again pulled his team even at 4-4, this time deflecting a Carson Olsen shot from the blue line for his 11^th of the year, with just seven minutes to go in regulation. Despite a late surge by the Battlefords’ attack, the game was destined for overtime.

In sudden-death, Sleeva’s second of the night and 21^st of the season won the game on a Mustangs’ power play goal in OT to make it a 5-4 Melfort final, and extend his team’s winning streak to six straight. Mustangs’ goalie James Venne made 30 saves to backstop his team in the win.

With the OT defeat the North Stars do secure a single point in the standings, but now sit two points back of Melfort for second overall with a 33-14-5 record through 52 games. Suddenly just two points up on fourth-place Humboldt, who hold a pair of games in-hand, the stage is set for the Battlefords’ return to play next weekend.

The North Stars will now get a week to rest up and regroup ahead of their return to the ice next Friday and Saturday for a home-and-home with the division rival, Broncos. Friday’s game will be played in North Battleford, with the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

6:06 MLF Logan Belton (20) ASST: Aidyn Hutchinson, Cole Unger 1-0 MLF

17:02 BAT Jordan Grill (10 ASST: Alex Izyk, Josh Karman 1-1 Tie

18:31 MLF Aidyn Hutchinson (31) ASST: Logan Belton, Leith Olafson 2-1 MLF

Second period:

5:50 BAT Tanner Gold (10) ASST: Kian Bell 2-2 Tie

15:35 MLF Rhett Hamilton (7) ASST: Cole Unger, Tye Evans 3-2 MLF

18:20 BAT Elijah Anderson (10) ASST: Evan Waldie, Alex Izyk (PP) 3-3 Tie

Third period:

0:14 MLF Clay Sleeva (20) ASST: Logan Belton, Aidyn Hutchinson 4-3 MLF

12:57 BAT Jordan Grill (11) ASST: Carson Olsen 4-4 Tie

Overtime:

1:42 MLF Clay Sleeva (21) ASST: Chase Friedt-Mohr, Ryan Duguay (PP) 5-4 MLF

5-4 MLF, the Final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars battle Mustangs the distance, but fall in OT

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