Stars’ netminder, Kristian Lyon stopped all 34 pucks sent his way Friday night to earn the shutout in his postseason debut with the North Stars. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Lyon roars

Stars blank Hawks in playoff opener for 3-0 win in Game 1

Mar 7, 2020 | 12:42 AM

Like watching a David Attenborough-voiced documentary series on the big screen, the Nipawin Hawks learned why the Lyon is the king of the jungle Friday night at the Civic Centre.

Stars’ goalie Kristian Lyon turned aside all 34 shots he faced to earn a shutout in his North Stars’ playoff debut, while Kaden Boser, Jaxon Steele and Elijah Loon-Stewardson chipped in with a goal apiece, as the Battlefords North Stars blanked the Nipawin Hawks 3-0 in Game 1 of the teams’ first round playoff series.

Stars’ goaltender Kristian Lyon picked up a shutout win in his North Stars’ debut, back on Jan. 15, and repeated the feat in his playoff debut with the team, stopping all 34 Nipawin shots to help lead his team to a 3-0 win Friday night at the Civic Centre. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

With the victory, the Stars take an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven quarterfinal matchup.

Nipawin’s Ross Hawryluk made 44 saves on 47 Stars’ shots in the loss, keeping his team in the game to the late stages of the third.

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The North Stars fired 19 shots in the first period alone, to set the tone early in the contest.

Boser’s tally made it 1-0 Stars late in the opening frame, with just over three minutes to go in the period. Cashing in on the rebound of a Ryland McNinch shot that hit the crossbar, Boser’s goal was the forward’s fourth career playoff tally with all four serving as game winners.

After a scoreless second period, the Stars stuck again just over seven minutes into the third thanks to a highlight-reel effort from Steele.

Carrying the puck over the attacking line in full-flight, Steele then proceeded to toe-drag around the defender and, all in one motion, snap a shot high short-side to give his team an insurance marker and make it 2-0 Battlefords.

Hawryluk continued to keep his team in the game, stopping Matthias Urbanski on a penalty shot opportunity, before then robbing Steele on a one-timer from 15 feet just minutes later.

Despite the heroics, the Stars continued to surge throughout the third period, with Loon-Stewardson’s goal icing the proverbial cake on the Stars’ road to victory.

Breaking to the front of the goal on a rush chance, Loon-Stewardson then slipped the puck home with a deft touch in front to make it 3-0 North Stars, the final.

The North Stars and Hawks will now both look to regroup quickly, as the teams will return to action for the second time in as many nights in Game 2 Saturday.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB and CJNB.ca. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

In other action around the SJHL Friday, La Ronge defeated Yorkton 6-1, Estevan beat Melfort 4-1 and Flin Flon topped Humboldt 5-2. All three victors now lead their quarterfinals’ series 1-0.

Scoring summary

First period:

16:55 BAT Kaden Boser (1) ASST: Ryland McNinch (1), Steven Kesslering (1)

Second period:

No scoring

Third period:

7:22 BAT Jaxon Steele (1) ASST: Ben Hiltz (1), Seth Summers (1)

16:32 BAT Elijah Loon-Stewardson (1) ASST: Seth Summers (2), Rylan Nivon (1)

3-0 North Stars, the final.

North Stars playoff schedule, Round 1 vs. Nipawin Hawks:

Game #1: Stars win 3-0; lead series 1-0

Game #2: Sat., Mar. 7 @ North Battleford Civic Centre

Game #3: Tues., Mar. 10 @ Nipawin’s Centennial Arena

Game #4 Wed., Mar. 11 @ Nipawin’s Centennial Arena

*Game #5 Fri., Mar. 13 @ North Battleford Civic Centre

*Game #6 Sun., Mar. 15 @ Nipawin’s Centennial Arena

*Game #7 Tues., Mar. 17 @ North Battleford Civic Centre

*indicates if needed.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1