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Stars take division lead with OT win over Hounds

Jan 19, 2019 | 10:09 PM

The Battlefords North Stars closed out another perfect weekend showing with a huge 3-2 overtime victory over the Notre Dame Hounds to leapfrog the division-rival Klippers for top spot in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division with 56 points.

MacGregor Sinclair opened the scoring on the power play with a rocket of a shot, slinging one home from the high-slot to break the ice for his team, 1-0. The goal gave Sinclair sole possession of the team goal lead with his 19th of the campaign, to match his jersey number.

In the second, Owen Lamb would also score his 19th goal, giving his team an insurance marker at 2-0. Coming just 33 seconds into the middle period, Lamb’s goal would prove to be the only tally of the second frame.

Holding a 24-11 shot advantage and two-goal lead heading into the third, the game looked to be in full control, until in the final period, when the Hounds would strike quickly with two in a row.

After Hounds’ rookie, Jarrett Penner cut the Battlefords’ lead in half at 2-1, the Hounds would notch their second just 46 seconds later.

Jakob Breault was the man to tie things, with just 12 minutes to go in regulation.

For the first time in four meetings of the season-series, the game would need overtime.

In the extra frame, the Stars would need just over a minute-and-a-half to send Gull Lake’s Stars’ faithful into hysterics, thanks to a highlight reel goal by veteran, Braydon Buziak.

Picking up the puck in the neutral zone and driving in on the attack, Buziak lowered the shoulder and steered in on goal with his powerful stride holding the desperate defenceman at bay, just long enough to reach around the goaltender and tuck the puck home; 3-2 the final.

Buziak’s goal served as the forward’s 12th of the season and second in two games.

North Stars’ netminder, Chad Duran stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced in the victory, remaining solid throughout with timely stops when called upon.

The North Stars will now get a couple of days to rest and regroup, before returning to action against the Kindersley Klippers with tops in the division on the line Jan. 22. Tuesday’s game will be the first and only game at the Civic Centre this month for the North Stars. Fans can catch the action at the Civic Centre and on 1050 CJNB beginning with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m.

 

Scoring summary

First period:

12:07 BAT MacGregor Sinclair (19) ASST: Brett Gammer (10), Owen Lamb (15) (PP)

Second period:

0:33 BAT Owen Lamb (19) ASST: MacGregor Sinclair (30), Cody Spagrud (22)

Third period:

7:14 ND Jarrett Penner (14) ASST: Jakob Breault (17), Charles Martin (18)

8:01 ND Jakob Breault (14) ASST: Marshall Wilton (28)

Overtime:

1:32 BAT Braydon Buziak (14) ASST: None

3-2 North Stars, the Final

 

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1