Stars aim to play spoiler again in Portage

That timely offensive contribution is something the North Stars have received all season. Playing a major factor, not just on the winning goal but on those before it, the Stars’ timely scoring delivered the team a victory, despite being outshot 31-18 on the night.

After trailing 2-0 by the end of the first, it was a quick strike by Stars’ forward Dylan Esau just a minute into the middle frame that cut the Stars’ deficit in half.

MacGregor Sinclair’s goal to tie the contest in the third, again was a timely tally, coming on the power play where the Stars finished the night 1-for-3 on the man advantage to Portage’s 0-for-4 standing.

If Friday is any indication, it appears as though Terriers’ head coach, Blake Spiller is set on a hard-match situation whenever possible against the Battlefords’ top two lines.

Throughout the opening game, Spiller consistently deployed his primary checking unit, centered by 20-year-old Ocean Weisblatt, with youngsters Reece Henry and Kolton Shindle on the wings, against the Stars’ Loon-Stewardson’s, Buziak trio.

The Portage bench boss ensured to get his top line, centered by team captain Ty Barnstable, with wingers Scott Mickoski and Jay Buchholz, on the ice whenever the Stars’ Sinclair line stepped on the playing surface.

After Sinclair and Gil each potted a goal in the opening game, it remains to be seen if any matchup adjustments will be made, however it is unlikely, as the series is still young and just one of the line’s two goals was scored while at even strength.

The blue line is the one point of emphasis where the Stars’ brass looks to dictate a specific matchup on the road, as Cody Spagrud and Noah Form where, as anticipated, on the ice virtually every time the Barnstable line came over the boards.

It remains to be seen if Stars’ blue liner, Seth Summers will return to the lineup tonight, as the St. Albert, Alta., product did travel with the team, but did not play in the opening game of the series due to illness.

If Summers is eligible to go, the return of the 19-year-old to the lineup would certainly serve as a huge boon to the team overall, as Summers has established himself as a bona fide shut down defender in the league over his first SJHL season.

In goal, Joel Grzybowski was the ultimate difference maker for the Battlefords in the opening game, stopping 29 of the 31 shots sent his way.

Grzybowski’s performance came as no surprise, as the 19-year-old Hafford, product allowed greater than two goals-against just three times through his team’s 16-game playoff run to the Canalta Cup championship.

At the other end, 18-year-old Nathan Moore stopped 15 of 18 North Stars’ shots in his team’s Game 1 loss.

The Terriers will likely change things up and give 19-year-old Ethan Peterson the start tonight, as Peterson is the goalie who played majority of the Terriers’ playoff games on their road to the Turnbull Cup. Peterson won nine of his 12 starts, while posting a solid 2.32 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in the process.

The Ultra Print Pregame Show for Game 2 will begin at 6 p.m. with puck drop at 6:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars hockey on 1050 CJNB.

Series schedule:

April 26 -> Game 1: 3-2 North Stars, the Final.

April 27 -> Game 2 @ Stride Place

April 30 -> Game 3 @ NB Civic Centre

May 1 -> Game 4 @ NB Civic Centre

May 2 -> Game 5 @ NB Civic Centre*

TBD -> Game 6 @ Stride Place*

TBD -> Game 7 @ Stride Place*

*indicates if necessary

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars aim to play spoiler again in Portage

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