With another two goals and an assist Saturday, North Stars' forward Ben Portner (#18) now has eight goals and 13 points in his last four games. His 49 points are now tied for fifth overall in the league scoring race. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Sweep Weekend Series

North Stars take 7-3 win in Humboldt to claim ninth straight

Jan 21, 2024 | 12:34 AM

The Battlefords North Stars extended their winning streak to nine straight Saturday night in Humboldt, topping the division rival Broncos 7-3 at the Elgar Petersen Arena.

Ben Portner (two goals, one assist) and Jackson Allan scored a pair each in the win, while Alex Izyk had a goal and three helpers, and Tanner Gold (one goal, two assists) and Brad Blake (two assists) also added multi-point performances.

After scoring three goals on seven power plays Friday night, the North Stars’ special teams again led the way, this time going 4-for-7 on the man advantage and keeping the Broncos to 0-for-7 in the win.

North Stars’ goaltender, Matthew MacArthur made 35 saves to backstop the team to victory Saturday. With the win, he is now 3-0-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and .939 save percentage this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Izyk’s 10^th of the season opened the scoring on the power play midway through the first, firing home a wrister from the high slot to make it 1-0 Battlefords early.

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The lone goal of the first, and through much of the second, it wasn’t until the final three minutes of the middle frame when the flood gates would briefly open.

After Broncos’ forward, Spencer Bell knotted the score 1-1 with just three minutes to go, Portner’s first of the game re-upped the Stars’ lead, to make it 2-1 with just 1:10 left in the period.

Just when it looked like that would be the score heading into the second intermission, Gold then poked the puck off a Broncos’ stick at the blue line, to send away Allan on a breakaway in the final half-minute. Firing home his 11^th of the season on a lightning release with just 16 seconds to go, the goal made it a 3-1 game into the third period.

Boris Kofman got Humboldt back to within a single just a minute into the third, though Porter’s second of the game – and 18^th of the year – quickly re-established the Stars a two-goal lead to make it 4-2.

Allan’s second of the night and 12^th of the season stretched the lead to 5-3 on a power play goal off a deflection in front, followed by Gold’s eighth into the empty net to break the game open, with the Broncos’ goalie pulled for a 6-on-4 power play advantage midway through the frame.

Rylan Williams’ 14^th iced the victory on a highlight-reel goal off the rush late, to make it 7-2, followed by a final minute response by Humboldt’s Landen Stromme for a 7-3 Battlefords’ final.

With the victory, the North Stars improve to 28-7-2-1 on the season through 38 games. With 59 points, the team now sit just three back of first-place Flin Flon, though the Bombers do hold four games in-hand.

The North Stars will now get a couple of nights off before returning to action Tuesday night against Melville, in North Battleford. Tuesday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast 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:

9:37 BAT Alex Izyk (10) ASST: Ben Portner, Brad Blake (PP) 1-0 BAT

Second period:

17:21 HUM Spencer Bell (27) ASST: Cage Newans, Oakley McIlwain 1-1 Tie

18:50 BAT Ben Portner (17) ASST: Brayden Sinclair (PP) 2-1 BAT

19:44 BAT Jackson Allan (11) ASST: Tanner Gold 3-1 BAT

Third period:

0:58 HUM Boris Kofman (2) ASST: Matthew Van Blairicom 3-2 BAT

3:49 BAT Ben Portner (18) ASST: Josh Medernach, Alex Izyk 4-2 BAT

7:53 BAT Jackson Allan (12) ASST: Alex Izyk, Brad Blake (PP) 5-2 BAT

13:52 BAT Tanner Gold (8) ASST: Alex Izyk (EN) 6-2 BAT

18:38 BAT Rylan Williams (14) ASST: None (PP) 7-2 BAT

18:59 HUM Landen Stromme (5) ASST: Marik Mamic 7-3 BAT

7-3 BAT, the final

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1