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North Stars stare down Hawks at home

Dec 11, 2018 | 9:52 PM

With time winding down in the third period and his team up by two, Stars’ goaltender Joel Grzybowski stood calmly in his crease after making his 27th save of the night, sitting just six seconds and change from picking up his second shutout of the season, with one final faceoff upcoming to his left, deep in the Stars’ defensive zone.

Understanding the stakes at hand, the North Stars’ brass rolled out a veteran conglomerate to take the last second draw with MacGregor Sinclair the man sent to the dot.

Winning the faceoff back clean and brushing the puck to the end boards, Seth Summers then pinned himself to the end wall, as the final moments ticked off the clock and the Stars’ lead became a final, 2-0, thanks in large part to their starting goaltender and anchor between the pipes, Joel Grzybowski.

Grzybowski, who has been his squad’s backbone all season long has been especially strong as of late, posting a stellar 5-0-1 record over his last six games, while also stopping 177 of the 185 shots he’s faced over the span, for an outstanding .957sv%. 

The Battlefords North Stars defeated the defending-champion, Nipawin Hawks 2-0 Tuesday, in front of their hometown crowd at the Civic Centre in North Battleford.

Ryan Gil opened the scoring before fans were even warm in their seats, putting the home-side ahead 1-0 just 1:14 into the first period.

The California Kid, Gil, capitalized off a nice pass from the blue line, that saw Stars’ captain, Cody Spagrud, upon receiving a D-to-D relay from his defensive partner, Scott, then thread the needle expertly cross-seem and into the wheelhouse for Gil to strike on a perfectly placed strong-side one timer, over the sprawling Hawks goaltender and in for his 13th of the year; 1-0 Stars.

Adding to the excitement of the Stars’ opening tally was the surplus of teddy bears raining down to litter the ice surface for a good cause. After the stuffed animals were collected and cleared off the playing surface, it didn’t take long for the Battlefords’ black and silver to get back on the attack and continue their press.

Despite a few nice looks offensively and two power play opportunities apiece, the North Stars and Hawks would both go 0-for-2 on the man advantage through the first period, en route to ultimately chalking up a combined 0-for-11 finish with the extra man on the night. With the two teams boasting the top two penalty killing units respectively heading in, only helped by their showing on the evening, the power play struggles were perhaps greater understood.

The second period came and went with no scoring to report, meaning the Stars would ultimately find themselves entering the third period with a 1-0 lead over the top team in the league.

The third period, very much like the first two, saw the teams’ two netminders continue to dual it out and lock it down for their sides, until eventually, with time running out in regulation, when the Hawks, desperate for the tying goal, lifted their goalie, to present themselves a six-man attack in lieu of their backstopper.

Like a shark to blood smelling opportunity in the water, MacGregor Sinclair, who entered action as the Stars’ offensive leader with 34 points on the season heading into play, climbed his total further to 35 points on an empty net goal to seal the celebration for his team.

The North Stars will now get a few days off, before returning to action Sunday, Dec. 16, as the team welcomes the Hawks back to the Civic Centre for round two this week, and round five this season of a what is, for now, a tied-up season series at two-games apiece.

 

Scoring summary

First period:

1:14 BAT Ryan Gil (13) ASST: Cody Spagrud (17), Tanner Scott (6)

Second period:

No scoring

Third period:

MacGregor Sinclair (12) ASST: None (EN)

2-0 Stars, the final.

 

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1