North Stars forward Ben Portner scored his fifth of the playoffs, and third in two games to open the series, Friday night in Flin Flon. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Trail series 2-0

North Stars fall 6-2 in Game 2, face uphill climb in semis

Apr 6, 2024 | 2:47 AM

The Battlefords North Stars fired 34 shots and received another lights-out performance from their goaltender Friday, but it wasn’t enough to even their semi-final series in Game 2 versus the Bombers in Flin Flon.

Ben Portner and Kian Bell scored for the team, picking up a goal and an assist apiece, while Logan Cunningham made another 40 saves, including a number of big stops at key times to keep the game close through much of the night.

Bombers’ captain Justin Lies opened the scoring just over 5:30 into the night’s contest, on a rocket wrister for his sixth of the playoffs to make it 1-0 early. The opening goal was followed by another from Lies’ linemate, Anthony Piccininno to make it 2-0 Flin Flon at the end of the first.

Portner’s fifth of the playoffs cut the deficit in half, just over five minutes into the second, firing home his fifth of the playoffs and third in his last two games on a quick release from the slot, assisted by Bell and Alex Izyk.

Defenceman Anthony Bax re-established an insurance marker at 3-1 Flin Flon midway through the second, though once again, the Battlefords would answer back with one of their own just minutes later. This time, Bell converted for his sixth of the playoffs on the rebound of a Carson Olsen dart from the blue line.

award winners

SMVS collects 23 medals at PAGC Fine Arts Festival

6m ago

COOKIES FOR CATS!

Don't forget to smile as you buy a cookie for the P.A. SPCA

42m ago

A Packed Barn

N.B. Kinsmen Rodeo features large crowds, local talent

1h ago

In the third, Adam McNutt fired home a slapper on the power play to make it 4-2 Bombers in the opening minutes, followed by two more from the home-side as the period went along to stretch the lead to 6-2, with the latter coming into the empty net late with the North Stars pushing with six attackers.

Despite the loss, assistant coach of the North Stars, Garry Childerhose said postgame the team can look to their previous playoff experience from just a couple of seasons ago, to know the series is still far from over.

“A couple years ago we were in a similar situation [to Flin Flon now], where we went up 2-0 but then lost the next two in Flin Flon and they ended up taking four in a row, so it’s one of those things, it’s never over till it’s over and you’re not in trouble until you lose on home ice,” Childerhose said.

“For us, we’ll get home, we’ll get some rest, and then [Monday] come out hard, get a lot of pucks on net, play simple, play the right way and play hard. We’re looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity in Game 3.”

Game 3 Monday, from North Battleford’s Access Communications Centre, 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 Broadcast.

Scoring summary

First period:

5:33 FF Justin Lies (6) ASST: Anthony Piccininno, Carter Anderson 1-0 FF

14:28 FF Anthony Piccininno (1) ASST: Riley Niven 2-0 FF

Second period:

5:14 BAT Ben Portner (5) ASST: Kian Bell, Alex Izyk 2-1 FF

9:17 FF Anthony Bax (3) ASST: Jacob Vockler, Alexi Sylvestre 3-1 FF

12:54 BAT Kian Bell (6) ASST: Carson Olsen, Ben Portner 3-2 FF

Third period:

3:22 FF Adam McNutt (1) ASST: Cole Tanchuk, Anthony Piccininno (PP) 4-2 FF

12:54 FF Tyson Smith (1) ASST: Riley Niven, Kylynn Olafson 5-2 FF

19:19 Keefe Gruener (2) ASST: Noah Houle 6-2 FF

6-2 FF, the final

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1