Stars' forward Holden Doell celebrates with teammates after scoring one of his two goals on the night, Tuesday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Overtimeeeee winner!

Doell, Maric lead Stars to O.T. win in La Ronge

Jan 18, 2023 | 1:37 AM

Justen Maric stopped 40/43, and Holden Doell scored the O.T. winner just 2:45 into sudden death, to cap a three-point night and lead the Battlefords North Stars to a 4-3 overtime win in La Ronge, Tuesday.

Stars’ captain Jake Southgate was also a force for the team with three assists and more than six shots on goal, while Brad Blake and Zane Florence added a goal apiece in the victory.

Blake’s fifth of the season opened the scoring just 1:10 into the night’s contest, on the first shot for either side. Marking the 19-year-old’s fifth of the season, while the tally may have come early – as both goalies would quickly prove – goals would not come easily on the night.

Stars’ forward Brad Blake, pictured here opposite Ice Wolves’ captain Walker Jarome, scored his second in his last four games Tuesday night in La Ronge. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Nineteen of Maric’s 40-saves in the Stars’ crease came in the first period, while Ice Wolves’ goalie Dawson Smith stopped 22 in the opening frame on his way to 46/50 in the defeat.

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Doell’s first of the night and 21^st of the season finally broke through to make it 2-0 Stars midway through the first, converting on a quick wrister top-shelf, set up off a won board battle in the corner by a forechecking Southgate.

Then, after La Ronge forward Trenton Curtis closed the gap to 2-1 just three minutes later, it was Zane Florence re-establishing a two-goal lead for the Battlefords just prior to the second intermission.

Rushing the puck in on goal with a full head of steam, Florence then fired a missile high short-side for the 3-1 tally, to give the team a bit of insurance heading into the third.

The goal proved to be imperative to the team’s success on the night. After Dallyn Peekeekoot cashed early in the frame to make it 3-2, Kaycee Coyle would add the tying goal with just 46 seconds to go in regulation, on a shot from the point with the goalie pulled.

A 3-3 game at the end of three periods, the teams were destined for overtime.

There was no shortage of chances early and often in the extra frame, with perhaps the best of which thwarted on back-to-back Maric saves in tight, hurling his body to get in front of a follow-up chance from Dylan Handel to rob him in front of the crease.

Maric’s spectacle between the pipes allowed the Stars to continue play, and ultimately draw a penalty to go up-a-man on the power play, thanks to the speed of Steven Kesslering that drew a hook.

On the 4-on-3 power play Southgate then found Doell at the tops of the circles with traffic in front, to wire home the winner, capping a two-goal, three-point night for the league’s leading scorer.

With the win, the North Stars extend their league-leading record to 34-1-2-1 this season, and with 71 points, now sit 22 points up on the field for first place overall. The Stars will return to action for back-to-backs with Humboldt this weekend.

Friday’s game will be in Humboldt, with Saturday’s ‘home game’ a neutral-site contest in Martensville. Both games will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Scoring summary

First period:

1:10 BAT Bradley Blake ASST: Steven Kesslering, Jackson Allan 1-0 Stars

Second period:

11:41 BAT Holden Doell (21) ASST: Jake Southgate 2-0 Stars

14:58 LAR Trenton Curtis (13) ASST: Thomas Wright, Liam McInnis 2-1 Stars

18:08 BAT Zane Florence (6) ASST: Jake Southgate, Holden Doell 3-1 Stars

Third period:

4:20 LAR Dallyn Peekeekoot (4) ASST: Kale Taylor, Kaycee Coyle 3-2 Stars

19:14 LAR Kaycee Coyle (7) ASST: Liam McInnis 3-3 Tie

Overtime:

2:45 BAT Holden Doell (22) ASST: Jake Southgate (PP) 4-3 Stars

4-3 OT North Stars, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1