North Stars teammates Riley Little and Keiton Klein lead the charge to congratulate goaltender, Michael Harroch following the team's 5-3 win Friday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

On a Roll

Stars top Mustangs to open weekend with fourth straight

Feb 5, 2022 | 12:41 AM

The Battlefords North Stars extended their winning streak to four games Friday, topping the Melfort Mustangs 5-3 to open their billet/parent weekend with a victory.

Five different goal scorers chipped in for the Stars on the night, as Easton Rask opened the scoring, while Zane Florence added his second in as many games, and Dylan Esau, Ryland McNinch and Steven Kesslering also cashed in.

Between the pipes, Michael Harroch kept the team in front throughout the night, stopping 28 of 31 shots for the win.

At the other end, Melfort’s Carter Anderson scored a power play goal in the first, while Curtis Hammond added a pair of his own in the third, to keep the game close throughout the night.

Rask’s opening tally came on a shot from the blue line, serving as his second of the year – and second against the Mustangs – to make it 1-0 Battlefords.

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Florence’s 12^th make it 2-0 Stars, cashing in for his second goal of the week from in front of the net, to provide his team an insurance marker.

Stars forward, Zane Florence on his way to celebrate with teammates after scoring his 12th of the year and second in as many games. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Anderson cut the Mustangs’ deficit in half, making it 2-1 on a snipe from the high slot on a 5-on-3 for his 15^th, serving as the final goal of the opening frame.

Esau scored the lone goal of the second with his 11^th of the year, showing good anticipation to intercept a Mustangs’ breakout pass, before cruising in on goal and snapping a shot over the goalie’s shoulder to make it 3-1 Stars heading into the third.

Hammonds’ pair both came off wicked wrist shots, slung to the top corner of the net from an angle, with the second also coming 6-on-4 on the power play with the empty net late. They sandwiched McNinch’s 14^th, which came on a North Stars power play, off a slick deflection in front by the captain.

With his 14th goal of the season in Friday’s win, Stars captain Ryland McNinch now has 32 points in 40 games this year. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

A 4-3 game into the final 1:35 of regulation, Kesslering’s 17^th put the game to bed on a breakaway late in the third. Set up in-stride by Holden Doell, Kesslering broke in solo, showing deft touch to slide the puck past the goaltender on a forehand move in-tight, to make it 5-3 the final.

With the victory, the North Stars have now won four straight, and improve to 25-10-5 this year. With 55 points, the team now sits just a single point back of Melfort for fourth overall in the league standings, while holding five games in-hand.

The Stars will now look to keep their streak rolling, as they return to action Saturday night against the La Ronge Ice Wolves in North Battleford. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

8:25 Easton Rask (2) ASST: Matthew Henry (9), Ethan Scriven (9)

15:51 BAT Zane Florence (12) ASST: Ryland McNinch (18), Sam Witt (12)

18:56 MLF Carter Anderson (15) ASST: Lucas Ochitwa (14) (PP)

Second period:

17:47 BAT Dylan Esau (11) ASST: None

Third period:

8:00 MLF Curtis Hammond (22) ASST: Leyton Holoien (12)

9:31 BAT Ryland McNInch (14) ASST: Ewart (23), Klein (13) (PP)

17:26 MLF Curtis Hammond (23) ASST: Clarke Huxley (4) (PP)

18:25 BAT Steven Kesslering (17) ASST: H. Doell (20)

5-3 North Stars, the final.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1