Stars embark on three-game road swing, in pursuit of sixth straight

Notre Dame (11-7-2) sit third in the division and sixth overall, with 24 points, and have played some of their best hockey of late, with just two regulation losses over their last 10 games, coming off a 4-3 overtime win over Melville.

Head coach of the North Stars, Brayden Klimosko said heading into the first game of the road trip – and especially against a team from the division – it’s important to stay focused on the task at hand, with a valuable two points up for grabs.

“These games are huge; they’re worth a little bit more obviously because they’re in the division and Hounds are right on our heels, here,” Klimosko said. “So it’s a big game tonight and we’re expecting a hungry Notre Dame team, so we have to be just as hungry.”

Players to watch

North Stars center, Holden Doell is coming off a multi-point performance last weekend (1G, 1A) versus Nipawin in his return to the lineup, after missing six games due to injury.

Flanked by the team’s leading scorer, Jake Southgate (11 goals, 22 points this season) who had two assists, and Zane Florence who picked up a goal and a helper; together the three will be looking to pick up where they left off in a six-point night as a unit last game.

Dylan Esau, who also chipped in a pair of goals of his own last Friday, enters play with three goals in his last three games.

Notre Dame captain, Kevin Anderson leads all Hounds in scoring this year, and sits third overall in the league scoring race with 33 points.

Anderson has been especially hot of late, having scored two goals in the Hounds win over Melville earlier this week, to give him 10 goals and 14 points over his last seven games, dating back to the start of November.

Hounds forward, Oliver Band is also coming off a night to remember versus Melville, scoring the overtime winner on a multi-point night with a goal and an assist.

Special teams

Thanks to a dominant display of late that has seen the North Stars score on seven of their last 10 power plays, the Battlefords now rank fourth overall on the power play this season, cashing in on just over 22 percent of their chances.

Notre Dame also rank amongst the league’s elite on the man-advantage, as their nearly 25 percent efficiency, is good for second best overall.

The Hounds also hold the edge on the penalty kill, clicking at 85 percent to the Stars’ 77 percent. Though again, the North Stars have been much better of late, having gone 14/14 over their last four games on the kill.

Goaltending

Michael Harroch will make his fourth-straight start for the North Stars between the pipes. Through his first nine games this season, the North Vancouver product has posted a 6-1-1 record, along with a sterling 2.19 goals-against average and .939 save percentage.

Notre Dame’s Austin Elliott is likely to get the start for the Hounds, after a rare night off. In 11 games this year, Elliott has posted an 8-2 record, with a 3.06 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:30 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 8 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

M. Henry, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

J. Southgate, H. Doell, Z. Florence

K.T. Walters, R. McNinch, D. Prymak

T. Kennedy, B. Blake, C. Bear

Defencemen:

E. Rask, R. Little

S. Witt, T. Gold

T. Ewart, J. Grill

Goaltenders:

M. Harroch

L. Kenyon

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars embark on three-game road swing, in pursuit of sixth straight

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