By Martin Martinson

Despite loss, power play stays hot for North Stars

Sep 23, 2018 | 7:58 PM

The Battlefords North Stars and Humboldt Broncos entered action Saturday night mirror images of one another. Both teams started their respective seasons 0-2 before answering back in their third game to improve to 1-2. Saturday night provided an opportunity for one of the two sides to improve their record further, to .500 to start the season.

Ultimately, despite a red-hot power play, it was the North Stars who took home a 4-2 defeat Saturday to the division-rival Humboldt Broncos in the first meeting of the year between the two sides. With the loss, the Stars are now 1-3 to start the season.

Brayden Camrud opened the scoring at the 9:17 mark of the first period on the power play when the forward cashed in on a jam play at the side of the North Stars’ goal with all kinds of ruckus in front of the net. For Camrud, the tally marked his second goal in his last two games. Owen Guenter and Luke Spadafora picked up the assists on the scoring play.

Then, not even a minute into the second period, Derek Patter would extend his team’s lead to 2-0, giving the Broncos an insurance marker, with Liam Drager being credited with the lone helper.

The North Stars would bounce back, however, less than three minutes later on the power play with Luke Spadafora in the penalty box for slashing. Thursday’s overtime hero, Matthias Urbanski was the one to do it, scoring his team a power play goal after Owen Lamb picked up the puck down low in the attacking zone, shrugged off a check, walked the puck to the side of the cage, then slid a deft pass through the crease onto Urbanski’s awaiting blade for the tap-in. Just like that, the Stars had cut the Broncos’ lead in half.

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The parade to the penalty box continued throughout the second period for the Broncos, with the North Stars capitalizing again on the power play thanks to a sizzling wrist shot off the blade of MacGregor Sinclair. Sinclair’s snipe came after nearly a full half-minute of controlled pressure within the offensive zone. Ultimately it was a Buziak feed to point man Cody Spagrud that the defenseman then flipped to Sincair that lead to the equalizer. 2-2 with half a game remaining.

Before the end of the period though, Humboldt would respond with a couple quick strikes of their own. Chase Felgueiras re-upped his team’s one goal lead with Daunte Fortner and Derek Patter claiming the helpers, before Brayden Camrud added to his squad’s lead further, potting his second goal of the game and third in his last two games. Daunte Fortner and Zach McIntyre accrued the assists on Camrud’s second goal of the night.

Despite some late game desperation shown by the North Stars, there were no further indents on the scorecard, with goaltender Dane Dow making a few big saves late to keep the game in doubt for the North Stars. Dow would ultimately make 23 saves on 25 shots to secure the win for the Broncos. At the other end of the ice, Stars’ goalie Joel Grzybowski made 33 stops on 37 shots for the visiting Stars.

The North Stars will have a quick turnaround and be back into action Sunday night against La Ronge. Pregame coverage kicks off at 6:45 p.m. with puck drop at 7 p.m. on 1050 CJNB. 

Scoring Summary

First Period:

9:17 HUM Brayden Camrud (2) ASST: Owen Guenter (2), Luke Spadafora (1) (PP)

Second Period:

0:38 HUM Derek Patter (1) ASST: Liam Drager (1)

2:52 BAT Matthias Urbannski (2) ASST: Owen Lamb (2) (PP)  

7:13 BAT MacGregor Sinclair (3) ASST: Cody Spagrud (2), Braydon Buziak  (1) (PP)

14:34 HUM Chase Felgueiras (1) ASST: Daunte Fortner (2), Derek Patter (1)

16:16 HUM Brayden Camrud (3) ASST: Daunte Fortner (3), Zach McIntyre (2)

Third Period:

No Scoring

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1