Stars forward, Jake Southgate pictured here across from Flin Flon's Matt Raymond, leads all SJHL players with three goals, six points through the first two games of the playoffs. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Series shifts to Flin Flon

North Stars look for series stranglehold in Game 3 with Bombers

Mar 22, 2022 | 1:27 PM

The Battlefords North Stars will return to action Tuesday night, looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their first round best-of-seven series with the Flin Flon Bombers, as the series shifts locations to Flin Flon for Games 3 and 4 Tues. and Wed. night.

The North Stars took each of the first two games in North Battleford, opening the series with a 7-3 win Friday night in Game 1, led by a hat trick performance by captain, Ryland McNinch; followed by a 4-2 victory Saturday, on the strength of a two-goal night by local, Jake Southgate.

Stars goaltender, Michael Harroch has been nothing short of spectacular as well through the first two games of the series, stopping 78 of 83 Bombers shots, for a 2.50 goals-against average and .940 save percentage this postseason. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Head coach of the Stars, Brayden Klimosko said with much to like about the team’s game of late, they must keep it going against a hungry Bomber team headed back to their home ice.

“I think overall they’ve been very close games and we’ve executed well,” Klimosko said. “I think we’ve scored on our chances when we’ve had them, and they’ve been pressuring the heck out of us and we’ve done a pretty good job of handling that as best we can so a lot of good things so far, and now we just need to keep it going.

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“A 3-0 series or 2-1, that’s a big difference; so it’s another huge one for us here tonight.” – Stars coach, Brayden Klimosko

The Stars will receive a boost to the lineup once again in Game 3, as blue liner Easton Rask will make his return from injury after missing the last nine.

Adding another physical presence on the back end who thrives in a matchup role, Rask joins a Battlefords defence that cut down on their shots-against from 50 in Game 1, to just 33 against in Game 2.

As location shifts to Flin Flon, the North Stars will be looking to buck the home-ice trend of the season series between the teams that has held true through the first two games of the playoffs. The home team has won each game the Stars and Bombers have played each other this year as the Stars are 4/4, and Bombers 2/2 on home ice.

Jake Southgate leads the North Stars – and the SJHL – with six points through each series’ opening two games of the playoffs, while his three goals are tied with teammate, Ryland McNinch (and Estevan’s Mark Rumsey) for the league-best mark as well. McNinch and defenceman Sam Witt (five assists) have five points each.

Forward Jacob Vockler has been among the Bombers’ most dangerous players early this postseason with a team-leading two goals in two games. Fellow game-breakers Jaeden Mercier, Zak Smith and Xavier Lapointe, who combined for 142 points this season, have been dangerous as well, though are still looking for their first point of the series, collectively.

Bombers standouts, Jaeden Mercier (#23), Jaxon Martens (#18), Cole Tanchuk (#39) and Zak Smith (back left, #47) draw up an offensive play. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Flin Flon’s offence has been especially prolific at home, where the team scored 120 goals in 29 games at the Whitney Forum this season (or 4.14 per-game), compared to 86 in their 29 on the road (2.97 per game).

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB an hour earlier than usual, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 6:30 p.m.

In other Game 3 action around the league, the (#8) Notre Dame Hounds will host (#1) Estevan in Wilcox in a 1-1 series; the (#7) La Ronge Ice Wolves will host (#2) Humboldt Broncos in La Ronge in a 1-1 series; and the (#6) Yorkton Terriers will host (#3 Melfort Mustangs in Yorkton in a 1-1 series.

North Stars playoff schedule, Round 1:

Game #1: Stars win 7-3; lead series 1-0

Game #2: Stars win 4-2; lead series 2-0

Game #3: Tues., March 22 @ Flin Flon

Game #4: Wed., March 23 @ Flin Flon

Game #5: Fri., March 25 @ North Battleford

Game #6: Sun., March 27 @ Flin Flon

Game #7: Tues., March 29 @ North Battleford

*If needed. Full schedule details are available here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1