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North Stars win sixth straight, 6-3 over Humboldt

Feb 24, 2016 | 5:39 AM

To say the Battlefords North Stars have the Humboldt Broncos number this season would be an understatement.

Heading into Tuesday’s game the North Stars had a perfect 5-0 record against the Broncos, had outscored them 26-4 and shut them out three times. Tuesday’s game was a spirited affair, but more of the same for the North Stars against their division rivals.

It took just 44 seconds for the North Stars to open the scoring in the game when a shot from the point by Connor Sych was deflected in by Coby Downs.

Later in the the period the North Stars found themselves shorthanded with Reed Delainey in the box, but it didn’t stop them from creating offence.

Layne Young hit Rory Davidson with a pass in the neutral zone and the speedster turned on the jets, blowing past the defencemen before going forehand backhand on Ryan Larochelle and scoring his fourth goal of the season to make it 2-0.

The Broncos got some life into them as they clawed back into the game with two quick goals in the second half of the first period. Daniel McKitrick took a pass from Michael Korol in front of the net on the rush before beating Ryan Rewerts over the glove to cut the lead to 2-1.

Not long after, McKitrick got his second of the game as the puck was rolling in on Rewerts and the North Stars goalie elected to try and poke check it away. McKitrick reached the puck first and chipped it over the goalies glove for his second of the game.

The score after the first was 2-2, but the North Stars had a decisive 20-8 shot advantage. 

The North Stars turned things on in the the third period scoring three unanswered goals. First it was Dustin Gorgi jamming away at a rebound off Delaineyfor his 26th of the season on the power play at 3:08.

Not even a minute-and-a-half later, Igor Leonenko came flying down the right wing before cutting to the net, getting Larochelle to open the five hole, and tucking home his 37th of the season.

Leonenko was at it again eight-and-a-half minutes later as he deflected a shot from the point by Conor Jensen for his second of the game to make it 5-2.

The Broncos got a late power play goal when their captain Logan Schatz jumped on a rebound with just 27 seconds left in the period and knocked it past Rewerts to cut the lead to 5-3 heading into the third.

The North Stars were able to hold the Broncos to just three shots in the third period while Braydon Buziak scored his first goal in 10 games. He took the puck away behind the net before coming in front and roofing it over the blocker of Larochelle to cap off the scoring.

The North Stars now return home for two huge games against the Flin Flon Bombers at the Civic Centre Friday and Saturday. The Bombers are the only team the North Stars haven’t beat this season, with an 0-3-1 record.

The North Stars will also wear pink jerseys on Friday to raise awareness for anti-bullying, and the jerseys can be bid on through a silent auction during both games.

 

Email: cjnbsports@jpbg.ca
Twitter: @craig_beauch