With Friday's loss, the North Stars are now 1-3-1-0 against the Broncos this season, but will have a chance to answer back and finish the season series strong Saturday night in Humboldt. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Friday night hockey

Stars fall to Broncos 5-3 to open weekend

Mar 4, 2023 | 12:04 AM

Despite twice holding the lead in the third period of play, the Battlefords North Stars fell 5-3 to the division-rival Humboldt Broncos, in a back-and-forth game Friday night at the Access Communications Centre.

After Humboldt’s Quinn Myles opened the scoring on a quick shot from just inside the right circle to make it 1-0 Broncos midway through the first, Steven Kesslering answered almost immediately to get the Stars back to even early.

Firing home his 32^nd of the season just 1:20 later, Kesslering’s goal was determination personified, jetting down the ice for an initial chance stopped, only to cash in on the secondary wrap-around try to make it 1-1.

Though the teams would combine for 28 shots (15-13 Broncos) in the middle frame, that is where the game would remain into the third period, with Stars’ goalie Josh Kotai on his way to making 25/29 saves on the night, and Jared Picklyk to stopping 24/27 at the other end.

In the opening two minutes of the third, Kesslering’s second of the night and 33^rd of the season gave the Battlefords their first lead at 2-1, on his fifth goal and 10^th point in his last five games.

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Matthew Van Blaricom re-tied the contest 2-2 just over five minutes later, though the Stars again were quick to strike back. This time, as Alex Izyk fired home his fourth of the campaign just a minute later to make it 3-2 Stars.

Cage Newans’ 20^th made it 3-3 on a wraparound, followed by a late power play marker by Alec Saretzky from the mid-slot to give the Broncos the deciding goal on the night, at 4-3 on his 25^th.

Though the Stars pushed late with the empty net, Van Blaricom iced the game with his second of the evening and 12^th of the season into the empty net to make it a 5-3 Broncos final.

With the loss, the North Stars are now 44-5-2-1 on the season. The team will look for a quick response when they head to Humboldt Saturday night for the second game of their back-to-back with the Broncos, and the final installment of the season series.

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

Scoring summary

First period:

11:04 HU Quinn Myles (2) ASST: Daylan Weigel 1-0 Brocos

12:24 Steven Kesslering (32) ASST: Tynan Ewart 1-1 Tie

Second period:

No scoring

Third period:

1:56 BAT Steven Kesslering (33) ASST: None 2-1 Stars

7:48 HUM Matthew Van Blaricom (11) ASST: Ben Kotylak 2-2 Tie

8:26 BAT Alex Izyk (4) ASST: Brad Blake 3-2 Stars

11:35 HUM Cage Newans (20) ASST: Jacob Boucher 3-3 Tie

15:53 HUM Alec Saretzky (25) ASST: Cage Newans (PP) 4-3 Broncos

19:19 HUM Matthew Van Blaricom (12) ASST: None (PP, EN) 5-3 Broncos

5-3 Broncos, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1