Stars, Broncos to wrap season series with final showdown in NB

The Broncos have also played some of their best hockey of late, entering Saturday on a two-game winning streak, with eight wins in their last 10, including most recently a 6-0 thrashing of Melville Wednesday.

The North Stars have still eight games to play, and with a 30-14-6 record through 50 games, have 66 points. Sitting just a single point back of Flin Flon for third overall while holding a game in-hand, the Stars have won three straight heading into the weekend.

Players to watch

Dylan Esau has been on fire of late for the Battlefords, as the 20-year-old veteran is coming off three-straight multi-point games, with four goals, nine points over his last four. In 47 games this year, Esau’s 47 points (and 31 assists) lead the Stars in scoring heading down the final stretch of the season.

Just a single point back of Esau, Jake Southgate has also been a force for the Stars this season, with a team-leading 20 goals (tied with Steven Kesslering) and 46 points. Playing his last couple of games at center due to the team’s rash of injuries down the middle of the ice, Southgate will line up Saturday between Zane Florence and Keiton Klein.

Humboldt’s Connor McGrath leads the SJHL in scoring, and looks to have all but secured the league scoring title – in this, his rookie season. With 79 points in 52 games, the still 18-year-old has a nine-point lead on Estevan’s Mark Rumsey, while racking up 10 goals, 18 points in his last eight games.

Broncos’ winger, Braiden Koran has six goals, 12 points over his last seven games as well, to now sit second in team scoring with 56 points in 52 games.

Special teams

While both sides boast some real scoring talent, the Stars do hold a slight advantage on the power play this year, having converted at a nearly 23 percent rate (third overall) on the man-advantage this year to the Broncos’ 21 percent (sixth).

On the kill, Humboldt have been the crème de la crème however, leading in penalty kill percentage for much of the year at now 91 percent (first), to the Stars’ 79 percent (ninth).

Goaltending

Between the pipes, Lowen Kenyon will make his second straight start and third in the team’s last four games. Coming off a 25-save performance in the Stars’ 4-1 win over Weyburn Wednesday, Kenyon is 6-2-1 this season, with a sparkling 2.02 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.

Humboldt’s Race Ramsay has played 47 of his team’s 54 games, and is coming off a 29-save shutout over Melville Wednesday. Ramsay is having a 20-year-old season for the books, with 38 wins and just nine losses, to go with a 2.04 goals-against average and .929 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. Scriven, B. Blake, C. Bear

E. Wurst, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

Z. Florence, J. Southgate, K. Klein

M. Henry, T. Bahm, E. Waldie

Defencemen:

W. Steele, R. Little

S. Witt, T. Gold

T. Ewart, E. Rask

Goaltenders:

L. Kenyon

A. Schwab

INJ: (C) H. Doell, (C) R. McNinch, (C) D. Prymak, (D) J. Grill, (G) M. Harroch,

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars, Broncos to wrap season series with final showdown in NB

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