It was another tough game for the Battlefords North Stars on Friday at Access Communications Centre as they lost 6-3 to the Melville Millionaires, getting zero points over the weekend.
In the first period, the North Stars started off strong getting the first goal of the game coming from Michael Carter to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Mills were able to answer back shortly after though, finding the back of the net on a goal from Jaden Iyogun to tie things up 1-1 at the midway point of the period.
Throughout the rest of the period, the North Stars continued to put pressure on, finding lots of good shots which resulted in another goal, coming from Nikita Ivashchenko to retake the lead 2-1.
However, nearing the end of the period, after a weird bounce of the back wall of the Battleford zone, the Mills found the puck loose in front of a wide open net and scored to tie it up 2-2 going in the second.
Coming out for the second, the North Stars momentum seemed to slow down abit and the Mills took advantage, lighting the lamp again to take the lead 3-2 just past the 10 minutes mark of the period.
Then just a minute after their last goal, the Mills kept up with the pressure and were able to find the back the net again to extend their lead to 4-2 going into the intermission.
For the third period, the Mills came out with a relentless forecheck and just five minutes in, struck the nylon once more to make it a three goal lead and go up 5-2.
The North Stars seemed like they had no answer for Millionaires as the period went on but eventually Kobe Sawyer was able to give Battlefords some momentum, getting a goal to close the gap and make it 5-3.
As time was winding down the North Stars pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker but still couldn’t convert and the Mills sealed the deal with an empty netter to take the game 6-3.
The North Stars got outshot 35 to 28, went 0/1 on the powerplay and stopped the Mills on their only penalty kill.
Justen Maric stopped 29/35 shots in the game.
The North Stars record is now at 20-15–3-2 on the season for 45 points, putting them at 5th overall in the league.
The next game for the North Stars is Friday, January 31 at the Access Communications Centre against the Humboldt Broncos.
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austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com
On X: @AustinMattes
