North Stars forward Keiton Klein scored his 8th goal of the season in a 4-1 win over the Flin Flon Bombers. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

North Stars Hockey

North Stars get last laugh against Bombers in possible first round playoff matchup

Mar 11, 2022 | 10:50 PM

The Battlefords North Stars got the last laugh against what could be their first-round opponents in the SJHL playoffs.

They defeated the Flin Flon Bombers 4-1 at the Access Communications in North Battleford, to even the heated season series 2-2.

Austin Schwab made 48 saves on 49 shots to lead his North Stars to victory. Only Jaeden Mercier’s highlight reel, diving goal beat the sensational Schwab, who improves his regular-season record to 6-3, .930 save percentage, and a 2.39 goals-against average.

Jake Southgate scored his 23^rd goal of the season 9:19 into the first period, circling from the corner to beat Bombers’ goaltender Cal Schell through the legs on the power play. Mercier tied the game 48 seconds later, as he knifed through the Stars defence, diving to his forehand for the stylish equalizer.

Bradley Blake then restored the Stars’ lead 16:16 into the first period, netting his sixth goal of the season. Blake had gone 16 games without a goal, but now has three goals in his last two contests.

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The scoreline stayed that way until the third period, when Blake won an offensive zone faceoff back to Wilson Steele, who scored his third of the season to make it 3-1, 2:39 into the final frame. Keiton Klein added insult to injury, as he converted a back-door one-timer from Jake Southgate, 8:44 into the third.

In the third period, Matthew Henry and Matt Raymond decided to end a month’s long beef. On Feb. 12 in a 6-3 Bombers in at the Whitney Forum, Raymond waved Henry over for a fight after the second period had expired. Henry came over, but Raymond turned away. Henry then threw his glove at Raymond after he declined the fight. Then in the Feb. 20 rematch in the Battlefords, Henry was given a game misconduct before the game even began.

But in the third period, Henry and Raymond finally went at it, with both not bothering to block or defend in any way. They let their hands go until they both ran out of steam and let the linesmen break them up.

Friday’s game was the North Stars’ last home game of the regular season. They will close out their regular season with Saturday night’s contest in Kindersley against the Klippers, and then on Monday in Wilcox against the Notre Dame Hounds.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW