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AAA Stars edged in final minute by Mintos, officially eliminated from playoffs

Feb 16, 2018 | 9:00 AM

It’s a tough pill to swallow when you leave it all on the line and things don’t go your way.

The Battlefords AAA Stars were edged 5-4 in regulation by the Prince Albert Mintos Thursday night, thanks to a Mintos goal with just 17 seconds left in regulation. The Stars came back from deficits of 2-0, 3-2, and 4-3 to tie the game again and again, but Kishaun Gervais’ individual effort in the final minute made the difference.

The loss officially eliminates the Stars from playoff contention. They are now six points back off the final playoff spot with just two games remaining, meaning they can’t mathematically catch the Saskatoon Blazers.

Shining bright on Thursday was Stars rookie goaltender Carter Serhyenko, who made 38 saves as the Stars were outshot 43-21. Adam Beckman and Ty Mosimann also kept piling on the points, with two each.

Beckman tied the game 2-2 with his 39th goal of the season, which was a nifty play at the side of the net. Now the league’s leading scorer with 71 points, Beckman took the puck from his backhand, to his forehand, to the top shelf in a split second. His 39 goals are easily the most in the league, seven ahead of Luke Mylymok’s second-place 32.

Mosimann’s two assists moved him into third in league scoring with 64 points. His 48 assists are tops in the league, eight ahead of Hunter Lamb’s 40.

After the Mintos went up 3-2 in the third because of a power play goal from Luke Nkwama, Tye Scherger tied the game in just five seconds with a shot that went off the post and in. Austin Lamotte put the home side up 4-3 with 4:17 left in the game, but Damon McKenzie put one through Carter Woodside’s five-hole to tie the game yet again, this time with 2:24 to go.

Gervais scored the game-winning-goal when he chipped the puck past a couple defenders, got a shot off and then found his own rebound lying in the crease.

It was an exciting game, but a heartbreaking loss for the Stars. They will finish out the season with a pair of games down south against the Moose Jaw Generals on Saturday and Sunday.

 

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11