North Stars in Melfort for Game 3 of semi-finals series

Head coach of the North Stars, Brayden Klimosko said heading into Game 3 Tuesday, his team has to continue to play with the energy and determination they have through the first two games.

“I thought we’ve played some really good hockey so far, and played a full 60 minutes in both contests,” Klimosko said. “Key in the series [has been] bringing higher energy and enthusiasm through the first two games, and I think it’s important tonight because of now Melfort can feed off their crowd, so it will be huge for us to match their energy.”

Melfort will be desperate to try to slow the Stars’ offensive attack, and kick-start their own, in their return to the Northern Lights Palace.

Mustangs’ captain Ben Tkachuk leads his team in scoring with seven points (3G, 4A) this post-season, and has been Melfort’s best player through the opening two games of the series with a goal and an assist to factor in on two of the club’s first three goals, while also providing his usual strong two-way play and grit.

Cut from the same competitive cloth, Tkachuk (6-feet, 181 pounds) and Kesslering (5-feet-11-inches, 190 pounds) had several run-ins during Game 2 of the series. The Jackson Allan line with Kesslering on the right wing and Brad Blake on the left, was often deployed against the Mustangs’ top unit of Tkachuk with Clarke Huxley, and Dawson Leroux.

The matchup will be among those to monitor heading into the location shift in Game 3, as Melfort will now be the team with last-change at home.

Another headlining matchup to watch will be that between the Mustangs’ top defence-pair of Leith Olafson and Kevin Minnoch, and the Battlefords top line. The pair have logged big minutes whenever possible through the first two games against Bell, Doell and Southgate, and will be instrumental in their team’s efforts to slow the SJHL’s most lethal trio, if Melfort is to get back in the series.

In goal, North Stars netminder Josh Kotai is coming off a 23-save performance in Game 2, and has stopped 49 of 52 Mustangs’ shots through the opening two games for a .942 save percentage on the series. Kotai is 6-1 these playoffs with a 1.87 goals against average and .936 save percentage.

Melfort are likely to return to goaltender Joel Favreau, who is 4-3 these playoffs with a 2.81 goals against, and .900 save percentage. Favreau will be looking for a quick bounce-back after allowing five goals on 19 shots in Game 2, before James Venne finished out the night’s contest going 8/10 in the third period.

Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday night will both 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. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

In other SJHL semi-finals action Tuesday, the Flin Flon Bombers will host the Humboldt Broncos for Game 3 of their best-of-seven in Flin Flon. The Bombers lead the series 2-0 heading in.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars in Melfort for Game 3 of semi-finals series

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