North Stars prepare for takeoff against Red Wings

The Stars’ top line of late has seen MacGregor Sinclair and Ryan Gil joined by one of the team’s hottest goal scorers, in Quintin Loon-Stewardson. “Q-Loon,” as he’s known by teammates, has scored five goals in his last eight games, including a tally last night to get his team back to within one of the Flin Flon Bombers not-quite half-way through the third period.

Sinclair picked up three assists and Gil chipped in with two helpers of his own, as the line exploded to combine for 6 points on the night.

Braydon Buziak, between Elijah Loon Stewardson and Owen Lamb, make up the Stars’ second line; a unit that has, for all intents and purposes, been etched in stone as the team’s go-to veteran contingent, responsible for setting the tone early on in games, and chipping in on the offense, while also playing a structured defense-first style of game.

The proverbial third line, featuring Matthias Urbanski to the left of Brett Gammer, and Regan Doig patrolling the ice on the right, has been a cause for concern for opposition coaches hoping for an easy, cut and dry matchup game.

Urbanski’s move alongside Gammer and Doig spreads the Stars’ offensive punch three lines deep with the team’s top three goal scorers, in Urbanski (13), Lamb (13), and Sinclair (10), each occupying different forward lines for the opponent to worry about.

Austin Becker, who set up Brett Gammer’s fifth goal of the season last night, off a gorgeous give-and-go play, will once again provide an added offensive flair to the team’s fourth line. Becker will be joined by Tanner Robin and Kaden Boser.

On the backend, Cody Spagrud will once again be joined by Tanner Scott to his left, as the defenseman draws back into the lineup tonight. This defence pair is made almost specifically to handle the rigours of being tasked with going head-to-head with the other team’s best forwards, with a speciality of shutting them down.

Scott’s apt defensive play also allows the captain to freelance when the opportunity arises, with Spagrud showing great ability to join, and sometimes even lead the rush, as evidenced by Spagrud’s game-winner Friday night, against the Bombers.

Noah Form and Matthew Fletcher on pair two are the perfect complement to the Scott, Spagrud tandem, as they offer the Stars’ coaching staff another unit more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the opposition’s top line, both at even strength and on the penalty kill, as the duo of Saskatoon products have similar defence first outlooks on the game, while also holding a penchant for precision passing to spring odd-man rushes for their team.

Austin Shumanski will be joined tonight by Ryan Granville, who draws back into the lineup and should bring an added element of two-way acumen, while moving the puck up quickly to the forwards, and has a knack for finding shooting lanes.

Joel Grzybowski will get the start tonight for the third straight game this weekend, with a 1-1 record and combined .902sv% through his previous two games.

Fans of the North Stars can catch all of the action at the Civic Centre, and on 93.3 The Rock, starting with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup at a glance

Forwards:

Q. Loon-Stewardson, M. Sinclair, R. Gil

E. Loon-Stewardson, B. Buziak, O. Lamb

M. Urbanski, B. Gammer, R. Doig

A. Becker, K. Boser, T. Robin

Defensemen:

T. Scott, C. Spagrud

N. Form, M. Fletcher

A. Shumanski, R. Granville

Goaltenders:

J. Grzybowski

A. Dmyterko

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars prepare for takeoff against Red Wings

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