The North Stars will need all hands on deck Saturday night, as they look to respond from Friday's 6-0 loss in Flin Flon. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)
By Martin Martinson
Shot at Redemption

North Stars shoot for quick bounce back in Flin Flon

Feb 18, 2023 | 3:02 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to action Saturday night in Flin Flon, for what could be their best test yet this season, looking to answer back from a 6-0 loss to the Bombers Friday.

Back at the Whitney Forum for a second straight night against their rivals to the north, head coach of the Stars, Brayden Klimosko said the team is looking forward to the opportunity ahead to get right back at it, as they shoot for a quick response.

“I think you’ve got to be excited about getting another chance here to get right back on the horse,” Klimosko said. “Obviously, it was a tough one last night, but it happens. Once in a while you’re going to have a stinker, so we’ll see how we respond here tonight.”

With four of Flin Flon’s six goals Friday coming on the man-advantage, Klimosko added that limiting their opponent’s chances up-a-man will be of the utmost importance.

“Discipline’s really important, and obviously when you’re frustrated you take a lot of penalties so I think overall we just need to be smarter in all aspects,” the coach said.

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“When [the Bombers] get power play chances they’re going to be dangerous, so it’s really important we’re ready to go tonight and understand how important it is to not give them that many chances on the power play.”

Despite the loss, the North Stars remain atop the league standings with a 40-4-2-1 record. Friday marked just the second time this season the Stars have been shutout, and the first since Jan. 14 in Estevan, a game they followed quickly with a 4-3 overtime answer against La Ronge.

Now inside the final 10 games of the regular season schedule, against a top-three team in Flin Flon (31-12-2-1) that has won three straight, Klimosko said this may well be the best test the team has faced yet.

“This is a true test. This is going to be a tough one,” he said. “It’s going to be a grind, and we’ll really see mentally and physically how we’ll be able to bounce back from a tough one last night. It’ll be good, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we respond.”

In goal, Josh Kotai will make his second straight start of the weekend, coming off a dynamite 45-save performance to keep his team in the game through much of the night Friday. In 33 games this season, Kotai is 27-3-2-1 with a 2.43 goals against average and .934 save percentage.

At the other end, Flin Flon’s Harmon Laser-Hume is also expected to get the start once again, coming off of a 15-save shutout. In 36 games played, Laser-Hume is 23-9-2-1 with a 2.42 goals against average and .919 save percentage.

Saturday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m., and puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson
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