Stars teammates swarm together around #27, Kian Bell (bottom right) following his overtime winner Friday night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Friday Night Thriller

Bell scores pair with OT winner, as Stars top Mustangs 5-4

Oct 1, 2022 | 1:19 AM

It took just 27 seconds into the extra frame for #27, Kian Bell to ring in the overtime winner on his second of the night, in the Battlefords North Stars 5-4 OT win Friday in Melfort.

Goaltender, Justen Maric stopped 29 of 33 shots to earn the win in his SJHL debut, while Jake Southgate added a goal in a two-point night, and Jackson Allen and Easton Rask rounded out the scoring.

Allan’s second of the season came just over three and-a-half minutes into the first, to make it 1-0 Battlefords, converting on a Steven Kesslering rebound to give his team the early lead.

After Melfort’s Logan Cox tied the contest on a backhand in tight to make it 1-1 at the end of the first, it was again the Stars scoring early in the frame to start Period 2.

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Rask’s second re-established the team’s lead at 2-1 just 1:33 into the middle period, on a shot from the blue line through traffic.

Stars blue liner, Easton Rask celebrates with teammates following his goal Friday night in Melfort. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

However, before the second intermission, it was again the Mustangs with an answer.

Back-to-back power play goals from Dawson Leroux and defenceman, Kevin Minnoch reversed the lead at 3-2 Mustangs, before the end of the period.

In the third, Bell’s first of the game came just 2:16 into the period, knotting the game 3-3 on a slick deke move to the backhand on a breakaway opportunity, to make it a new game.

Colby Bear of the North Stars and Dawson Leroux of the Mustangs took part in the ceremonial face-off Friday night, in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Zac Somers’ first of the year re-upped the Melfort lead at 4-3 on the power play on a shot from the slot, though only for about a minute before Southgate answered with his fourth for the Stars.

Busting in on goal on an odd-man rush, Southgate barreled to the front of the net, before snapping a shot high short-side to make it a 4-4 game just over five and-a-half into the third, serving as the final goal of regulation.

In sudden death OT, Bell’s winner came off a Tynan Ewart shot just wide of the cage that bounced off the Melfort goalie, Joel Favreau’s back and lay momentarily on the goal line, before being tapped home by Bell for the victory.

Quickly swarmed by his teammates in a celebration of pure jubilation, the victory gives the Stars their seventh straight win to open the season, while Melfort are now 2-3-2 on the year.

The North Stars will now get the rest of the weekend off, before returning to play Tuesday night in La Ronge, for their first game of the season versus the Ice Wolves.

Tuesday’s game 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:

3:34 BAT Jackson Allan (2) ASST: Steven Kesslering (4)

13:52 MLF Logan Cox (2) ASST: Kevin Minnoch (2), Daniel Ganert (1)

Second period:

1:33 BAT Easton Rask (2) ASST: Colby Bear (5)

15:10 MLF Dawson Leroux (3) ASST: Leyton Holoien (4), Zac Somers (3) (PP)

18:03 MLF Kevin Minnoch (1) ASST: Hayden Tuba (1), Dawson Leroux (5) (PP)

Third period:

2:16 BAT Kian Bell (2) ASST: Jake Southgate (4), Holden Doell (4)

4:36 MLF Zac Somers (1) ASST: Dawson Leroux (6) (PP)

5:33 BAT Jake Southgate (4) ASST: Steven Kesslering (5), Wilson Steele (4)

Overtime:

0:27 BAT Kian Bell (3) ASST: Tynan Ewart (5), Holden Doell (5)

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1