By Craig Beauchemin

North Stars set season high with eighth straight win

Feb 28, 2016 | 1:21 PM

The Battlefords North Stars were looking for another good outing against the Flin Flon Bombers after their 9-1 victory on Friday. Their offense continued to roll en route to a 5-2 victory Saturday night, the North Stars eighth straight win, which is a new season high.

The Bombers opened the scoring on a weird play. Igor Leonenko dove to knock a centering pass away while moving back defensively. The puck deflected up and towards the net, so Tyler Fuhr tried to reach out and grab it.

Kristian St. Onge was flying by the net, and appeared to close his hand on the puck before setting it down and putting it into the empty net. The goal was originally waived off, but after the officials and a few Bombers talked it over, it was ruled a good goal.

The North Stars were undeterred however, and their physical play led to a goal. Jordan Wiest laid a massive open-ice hit on Bombers captain Tyson Empey, which resulted in some confusion on the ice.

Mason Etter vacated his defensive position to try and goad Wiest into a fight. It ended with Rory Davidson getting a breakaway and beating Zac Robidoux over the glove to tie the game.

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The North Stars were looking to come out with a stronger effort in the second period. Leonenko made sure that happened.

Levi Kleiboer made a great defensive play in his own zone by placing his stick flat on the ice and blocking a centering pass. He then corralled the puck, carried it up the ice and into the Bombers zone before dropping it for Leonenko, who fired a wrist shot past Robidoux to make it 2-1.

Almost exactly 10 minutes later Leonenko struck again.

Ryan Rosenberg fired the puck from his own blue line, hitting the boards in front of his own bench. The puck appeared it would go for icing, but it slowed down inside the Bombers zone allowing Leonenko to break in on goal and beat Robidoux for his fifth goal in the past two nights.

The North Stars led 3-1 after 2, and have a record of 28-1-0-0 when leading after two periods on the season. 

Just over the mid-way point of the third, Leonenko took a one timer from the right faceoff circle that was deflected in front of the net by Dustin Gorgi to make it 4-1.

The Bombers got a goal back with under two minutes left in the game after a mad scramble in front of the net. Jason Lavalle was able to find the puck in the slot and beat Fuhr to cut the lead to 4-2.

The North Stars iced the game shortly after when Davidson got his second goal of the game to finish off the scoring.

The North Stars now just have three games left on the season until playoffs. They continue their four-game home stand when they welcome the Humboldt Broncos to the Civic Centre on Tuesday night, looking to complete the season series against Humboldt with a perfect 7-0 record.

Email: cjnbsports@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @craig_beauch