The Battlefords North Stars will be starting the post-season on home ice. Wednesday night at the Civic Center, the Battlefords North Stars defeated the Melville Millionaiers 3-1 and clinched second place in the SJHL's Bauer Conference.
Graham Hildebrand was the big story for the Stars. He turned aside 36 of 37 shots for the Stars, and made most of his saves look rather effortless in the process.
The Stars grabbed a 1-0 lead at 15:04 of the first period when defenceman Woody Klassen(9) intercepted a pass at center, skated across the blue-line and wired a shot by Zach Rakochy. Klassen's ninth was unassisted.
Late in the first, the Stars would make it 2-0. Shay Neufeld forced a turnover inside the Melville zone, and a Mil's defenceman threw the puck in front to a wide-open Mitch Wall(14) who snuck one through Rakochy. Wall's goal was also unassisted.
The first period could have looked a lot different had it not been for the steady play of Hildebrand. He stopped all 16 Melville shots, many of which were good chances.
The Stars increased their lead at 12:03 of the second period when Ward Szucki(16) banged home a rebound off a Jesse Lebreton point-shot. Hildebrand was again spotless in the second stanza, stopping 12 more Melville shots.
The Mil's would capitalize once in the third period when Derek Wasylyshen scored his first of the season on a mad-scrum in front of Hildebrand. Wasylyshen's low shot somehow found it's way through Hildebrand to ruin his shutout bid.
In the end, the Stars went 0-4 on the power-play, but Melville went 0-6.
Hildebrand was named the first star on the Northland Rental's Broadcast. Klassen was star number two, and Blake Peake was the third star.
The Pro Sound Music Warrior of the game was awarded to Ward Szucki.
With the victory, the Stars improve their record to 33-18-1-3 and clinched second place overall in the Bauer Conference thanks to a 4-3 Notre Dame victory over Melfort.
Now the Stars will look to keep the good habits going as they head to Eston Friday for a home-and-home with their rivals from Kindersley. Friday's game in Eston marks the final road game of the season for the Stars.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
great to see wish i wasnt in calgary, but my comment should this team not start looking at Hildy to start carrying the load for this team? i dont have the stats but will come up with them since xmas, i have said this before but i believe hildy is the better goalie. What ya think i love the opposing views.
I have to agree with you Saskgolf. Although, at times, Birch has been outstanding, he has given up some soft goals. It could be argued that the 2 goalie system has worked thus far, but I do tend to agree with you.
The numbers, which don't always tell the full story:
Kyle Birch: 23-12-1-1 (.893% and a 3.60 GAA)
Graham Hildebrand: 10-6-0-2 (.912% and a 2.87 GAA)
Let the debate continue.. The elephant in the room has to be addressed sooner or later.
acutally what i came up with xmas is this could be a bit off and i didnt include the melfort game. bad for both.
Birch 6-3 0.899 and a 3.20 GAA
Hildy 7-1 0.928 and a 2.38 GAA
So i know we were happy with Birch last playoffs and at times is awesome but i feel the league has figured out his attack the shooter which leaves him open for passes and he is too far out of the net. Hildy seems like he doesnt let anything bother him and has played great in big games. The 2 goalie system i dont think will be a good idea for the playoffs.
Kyle,
The Humboldt Broncos used the two goalie system all the way to the Anavet Cup last year, and had it not been for an injury to Andrew Bodnarchuk, perhaps they use it all the way to the R.B.C.
Personally, I'm in favor of the following approach:
Ken picks a goalie to start game one. If they win, the goalie stays in. The only way that the game one goalie does not continue to start is if they lose rather emphatically, such as a 4-1 or 6-2 kind of game. Next game, you give the other goalie his shot, and see if that gives the team a boost.
If they lose 2-1 in OT, I wouldn't think twice about starting the same goaltender.
There are so many different factors to take into consideration, but heck, right now this a really nice problem to have. No other team in the North has the depth in goal that we do.
Riding the hot goaltender has been a viable tactic for many teams. This is not saying that Kyle is a poor goaltender, just that Hildy is really hot, especially since Christmas, as was pointed out by Saskgolf. Another factor might be travel. The preliminary schedule put out by the league shows some back to back matchups if the team has to travel any distance to play.
I totally agree with you Dano, go with the hot goalie if the game 1 starter wins the first game ride him until he has a hiccup and change things up. I just believe that Hildy has been playing better since xmas and he should be the game 1 starter, but i dont think whatever happens in the next 3 games Ken will go with Birch no matter what based on last year and when Ken knew Kyle from Manitoba. Just what i think. No matter what happens i am behind the team and can not wait for the playoffs.
Post a Comment