Stars’ forward Elijah Loon-Stewardson (#25) and Terriers’ winger Scott Mickoski (11), pictured here in front of the Portage goal, have each been key contributors to their teams throughout the first three games of the series. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Same time, same place

North Stars and Terriers meet for second-straight night in Game 4

May 1, 2019 | 2:00 PM

Coming off a 5-3 loss Tuesday in Game 3, the Battlefords North Stars return to action for Game 4 of their Anavet Cup series with the Portage Terriers tonight at the NB Civic Centre.

Portage leads the best-of-seven series two-games-to-one, with tonight marking the second of three-games in three-nights between the two teams.

Of the opening three games of the series, two have been one-goal contests, with last night remaining undecided until the late stages of the third period as well.

After heading into the final frame Tuesday, trailing by a pair, the North Stars came out swinging in the third, notching back-to-back tallies courtesy of Ryan Gil and Cody Spagrud to pull even in the game. Although Portage did ultimately answer back with a couple of their own late, the Stars outshot the Terriers 11-6 in the third, and 31-21 on the night, for the first time in the series.

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Leading Portage to victory in Game 3 was the recently-altered top line of the Terriers.

After beginning the series on separate units, Terriers’ captain Ty Barnstable and fellow veteran, Chase Brakel have been nothing short of dynamic since being put together on the Terriers’ top line.

After generating a few good looks in Game 2, the pair, alongside Orca Weisblatt, who joined them on the left-wing Tuesday, exploded to combine for four of their team’s five goals, and nine points total in Game 3.

After being held scoreless through the opening two games in Portage, Barnstable led the way with a goal and four points all his own on the evening. Chase Brakel, meanwhile, chipped in with his first two goals of the series, including the game-winner inside the final eight minutes of the third.

For the Battlefords, the Stars’ Sinclair line, featuring MacGregor Sinclair alongside Owen Lamb and Ryan Gil, has been dynamite as well throughout the first three games.

Lamb has scored in back-to-back contests entering this evening, while Gil has two goals over the three games. Together, along with the aforementioned Sinclair, who serves as the straw that stirs the drink on that unit, the trio have combined for five goals, nine points to lead the Stars offensively.

On the backend, North Stars’ blue liner Cody Spagrud and Terriers’ rearguard Owen Murray may just be polar opposites as far as experience is concerned. Spagrud, a ’98 birthdate, holds nearly 160-more games of junior hockey experience than Murray, a rookie, and an ’02 birthday.

However, one thing the SJHL Top Defenceman, and MJHL Rookie of the Year hold in common, is their ability to generate scoring opportunities for their team, as premier offensive catalysts from the blue line within their respective leagues.

Spagrud, who scored the 3-3 tying goal in the third period of Tuesday’s game, has now picked up three points through the opening three games of the Anavet Cup.

Murray on the other hand, leads all players in points for the series, despite not yet registering a goal, having picked up five points already, highlighted by back-to-back multi-point outings over his last two games.

Right from the get-go, this Anavet Cup matchup has been played with an edge, as indicated by the dual 10-minute misconducts handed out in Game 1 for richter-scale collisions.

Game 2 saw, amongst further physicality, a boarding call, and unrelated roughing calls handed out to veterans Brayden Buziak and Braden Billaney.

Inside the final minute of Game 3 though, is where tensions finally appeared to boil to a head, as Terriers’ centreman Ocean Weisblatt and Stars’ winger Elijah Loon-Stewardson semi-dropped the gloves as the pair tumbled to the ice in a heap, each venting some frustrations on the other in the process.

Between the pipes, Stars’ goalie Joel Grzybowski has been excellent throughout the series, despite coming off a performance that saw the Terriers score five goals on 21 shots, Tuesday.

Grzybowski’s effort in overtime of Game 2 in particular, was nothing short of a dominant effort as the Hafford, Sask., product stopped 11 shots in the sudden-death frame, including many high-quality chances before the eventual winner was scored.

The Terriers’ Ethan Peterson is 2-0 since entering the series with a start in place of Nathan Moore in Game 2. Peterson holds a 2.63 goals-against average and .902 save percentage heading into Game 4.

The NAPA North Stars Hockey Broadcast will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop at 7:30 p.m. Marty Martinson will have the call on the action.

Series schedule:

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

April 27 -> Game 2: 4-3 (OT) Terriers, the Final.

April 30 -> Game 3: 5-3 Terriers, the Final.

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