The North Stars will take a 2-0 series lead into Melfort after a 3-2 victory over the Mustangs. (Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

2-0 SERIES LEAD

Chaotic 3-2 win gives the North Stars a 2-0 series lead vs the Melfort Mustangs

Mar 22, 2026 | 12:53 AM

For the second night in a row, the Battlefords North Stars survived a third period comeback attempt from the Melfort Mustangs took a 2-0 series lead after winning game two by a score of 3-2. Kaeden Serpa stopped 41 of 43 shots in the win, and has saved 81 of 85 combined in games one and two.

“Sigh of relief. I thought we had a really good second period, got ourselves a nice little lead going into the third,” said North Stars assistant coach Owen Lamb postgame. “They came up with everything they had, and I felt like we were just kind of playing defense and struggling to make anything happen. So, they brought everything and we were able to hold on.” 

The North Stars got on the board first when Finlay Klippenstein took a pass in the slot and put the puck on net. Mustangs goalie Madden Mulawka made the initial save, but the puck went off Zayden Sadlemyer and into the net. Klippenstein’s first goal of the playoffs made it 1-0 North Stars at the 5:43 mark. 

At 11:49, the Mustangs tied it up when Cole Unger found Darren Hunt in the slot. Hunt deflected the puck past the shoulder of Serpa and into the net to make it 1-1 more than halfway through the first period. 

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The Mustangs had a four-minute power play opportunity when Alex Coventry took a double minor fir high sticking, but the North Stars were able to kill off the full four minutes. 

After one: Tied 1-1 

4:21 into the second period, the North Stars took the lead back when Linken Fisher found former Mustang Owen Nelson streaking into the slot, and Nelson fired the puck past his former teammate Mulawka to give the North Stars a 2-1 lead. 

Later, Raiden Zacharias doubled the lead for the North Stars. He walked into the zone on the right-hand side, went wide on Hunt before bringing the puck towards the middle and taking a shot in tight. Mulawka made the first save, but Zacharias stayed on the rebound and scored to make it 3-1 at 13:34. 

“We talk about big time players making big plays, and that was that,” said Lamb. “He made a good hockey play. It was an awesome goal and made out to be the game winner. So, really proud of Zacharias on that play.” 

After two: 3-1 North Stars 

Like game one, the North Stars took a 3-1 lead into the third period, and the Mustangs made it 3-2 in a comeback attempt.  

At 6:20, Dru Mushumanski found Bo Eisner in front and Eisner scored his first goal in the playoffs to cut the North Stars lead to 3-2. 

Melfort had various opportunities to tie it, including a power play late in the game, but the North Stars were able to hold on. 

A brawl at the end of the game led to a lot of confusion. The whistle was blown with two seconds left, but the clock trickled down to zero. 

The North Stars thought the game was over and started to celebrate, but two seconds were added to the clock after the North Stars saluted the home crowd. 

The faceoff was outside the zone, and the North Stars held the lead for the win. 

“It was definitely chaotic there. From the benches, you couldn’t hear any whistles, you couldn’t hear anything. It was just so loud in the building,” said Lamb. 

Final score: 3-2 North Stars 

In the win, the North Stars held the Mustangs to 0/7 on the power play, which was one of the biggest factors in the victory.  

“Really proud of the dig in by our guys. They were willing to block shots, clear pucks, I thought our faceoffs were pretty strong on the kill, which helps a lot,” said Lamb. “Great job and some buy in from the killers tonight.” 

The North Stars will take a 2-0 series lead into Melfort. It’s the first time the Mustangs are down 2-0 in a playoff series since being swept by the North Stars in the 2023 playoffs. 

Game three is on March 24 in Melfort on CJNB/CJNS when the North Stars try to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Mustangs. 

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com