Stars forward, Matthew Henry scored his second goal of the season Friday, and will be key in setting a physical tone against the Hounds in a divisional showdown on home ice. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Divisional game

North Stars aim for quick rebound versus Hounds

Nov 6, 2021 | 3:00 PM

Coming off a tough 5-3 loss to the Terriers Friday, the Battlefords North Stars will get right back on the proverbial horse Saturday night, as they welcome the division-rival Notre Dame Hounds to North Battleford.

Team outlook

The matchup will be the second meeting in the last week between the two sides, and third of a season-series which will see the Stars put their 2-0 record against the Hounds to the test.

The North Stars enter play with a 10-6-2 record through 18 games. The team’s 22 points are good for second in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division, and fifth overall in the league standings.

Notre Dame, with an 8-5-1 record through 14 games, sit just back of the North Stars with 17 points; good for third in the division and sixth overall in the SJHL.

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The Hounds, who have played some of their best hockey of late enter Saturday on a 3-0-1 run, with their lone extra-time loss coming at the hands of the Stars, 6-5 Tuesday in the shootout.

Scoring leaders

North Stars leading scorers, Steven Kesslering and Jake Southgate sit tied for the team lead in points with 20 apiece. Hounds leading scorer and captain, Kevin Anderson also has 20 points, as the three players are in dead-heat for fifth in the league scoring race.

Dylan Esau leads the Battlefords with 15 assists of his 19 points this season, while Notre Dame’s Eric Dutil sits just a single point back with a Hounds’ high 12 goals and 18 points on the year.

Stars lineup notes

Forward KT Walters who scored Friday – and sits fourth in Stars’ scoring with 14 points in 17 games this year – will move to the Battlefords’ top line Saturday, to the right of Southgate and centerman Dace Prymak.

Captain Ryland McNinch (13 points) will then shift to center on the third unit, with Ethan Scriven and Keiton Klein; while on the fourth line, Bradley Blake and Colby Bear will draw back in up front.

On the backend, the Stars will be without blue line anchor and assistant captain, Riley Little Saturday. Out due to injury sustained Friday, Little joins fellow veteran Wilson Steele (and forward Holden Doell) on the sideline due to injury, leading to a heavily youthful backend.

In Little’s absence, 17-year-old, Easton Rask will elevate to play alongside Tanner Gold, while Sam Witt sticks with Owen Lugowski and Tynan Ewart will play with Jordan Grill.

Special teams

Following an 0-for-3 showing on the power play Friday versus Yorkton, the North Stars now have the seventh-ranked man advantage in the league, converting on just under 17 percent of their chances.

However, the Stars also held the Terriers power play off the scoresheet as well, an effort that included killing off an extended four-minute power play. The Stars are trying to work their way out of an early season funk that has seen their penalty kill struggle at times, ranking 11^th in the league at just under 75 percent effectiveness.

Notre Dame should provide a good test for the Stars’ PK, as the Hounds rank fourth on the man advantage this year, clicking at over 23 percent. Their penalty kill is also among the league’s premier, sitting third with just over 86 percent efficiency.

Goaltending

Michael Harroch will get the start for the Battlefords, after stopping 26 of 27 Yorkton shots Friday in a relief appearance, after Ulrik Roussel left the game due to injury. In five games this year, Harroch has posted a 2-1 record with a 2.51 goals-against average and sparkling .931 save percentage.

In the absence of Roussel, 17-year-old goalie, Lowen Kenyon will dress for the first time this season as the backup for the Stars.

Notre Dame’s Austin Elliott will likely get the nod for the Hounds. In eight games, Elliott is 7-0-1, with his lone extra time loss coming in Tuesday’s 6-5 shootout final to the North Stars.

Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Radio Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

J. Southgate, D. Prymak, K.T. Walters

M. Henry, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

E. Scriven, R. McNinch, K. Klein

Z. Florence, B. Blake, C. Bear

Defencemen:

T. Gold, E. Rask

S. Witt, O. Lugowski

T. Ewart, J. Grill

Goaltenders:

M. Harroch

L. Kenyon

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1