North Stars/Wings clash for second night in North Battleford

Weyburn are 12^th of the league’s 12 teams, with a 12-36-3 record, giving them 27 points. Desperate to snap a five-game losing skid, the Wings will also be hungry for a bit of offence, having been shutout in each of their last three games.

Players to watch

Stars forward, Dylan Esau is coming off a two goal performance Tuesday, and with 43 points on the year, now sits just three back of Jake Southgate for the team scoring lead.

Matthew Henry of the Stars also scored Tuesday, and was part of one of the Stars best lines, alongside center Ty Bahm and right-winger Evan Waldie, on a unit that provided energy throughout the night.

On defence, the Stars will see affiliated player (“AP”) call-up, Nikolas Smolinski make his SJHL debut. The 17-year-old from Moose Jaw has 18 points in 44 games this year for Swift Current of the Sask U18 AAA League.

While the Red Wings’ offence was held off the board Tuesday, it was a member of the team’s blue line who stood out as a real positive for his team, in Blake Norris.

A Warroad, Minn., product, Norris played big minutes for the Wings, raging the puck up ice on several occasions in an effort to initiate the offence, in addition to his defensive responsibilities.

Special teams

Both teams combined for just three power plays total Tuesday night (WEY 0/2, BAT 1/1), though special teams did play a factor in the Stars’ win. Dylan Esau’s opening goal came on the power play, and proved to be the game winner on the night.

The Stars are just under 23 per cent on the power play this season (third), and 79 per cent on the penalty kill (ninth). Weyburn are just under 17 per cent on the man-advantage (eighth) and 75 per cent on the kill (12^th).

Goaltending

Lowen Kenyon will make his second start in the last three games for the Battlefords, coming off a 39-save performance in his team’s 4-2 win over Flin Flon over the weekend. In 10 games this year, Kenyon has posted a 5-2-1 record with a lights out 2.14 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

Wings’ goaltender, Dazza Mitchell stopped 42 of 44 Stars’ shots Tuesday, but is likely to hand the reigns to former Battlefords AAA Stars standout, Jackson Fellner for Wednesday’s contest.

In 26 games this year, Fellner is 5-17-1, with a 2.85 goals-against average and .880 save percentage.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

E. Wurst, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

Z. Florence, J. Southgate, K. Klein

M. Henry, T. Bahm, E. Waldie

E. Scriven, B. Blake, C. Bear

Defencemen:

E. Rask, R. Little

S. Witt, T. Gold

N. Smolinski, T. Ewart

Goaltenders:

L. Kenyon

A. Schwab

INJ: H. Doell, D. Prymak, R. McNinch, J. Grill, M. Harroch

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars/Wings clash for second night in North Battleford

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