The Captain Delivers!
Mitch Wall ended a thrilling game at 3:10 of overtime with a brilliant individual effort and the Stars have a 3-1 series lead on the Melfort Mustangs.
The first period had no scoring. Both teams seemed a little tentative out of the gate, and there weren't any real quality chances through 20 minutes.
Early in the second, Melfort forward Brant Harris was awarded a penalty-shot after he was hooked up by Dominic Perrault.
Harris deked to the backhand and had a lot of net to shoot at, but Graham Hildebrand denied him.
A scary moment after that. Boyd Wakelin one-timed a pass towards the net and Mustang's defenceman Josh Martin took a puck in the face. Martin would stay down with little movement for a good two minutes before he skated off with help from his teammates.
Moments later Chad Filteau (2) opened the scoring after he dodged through three checks and wired one through Chris Ward.
Brant Henry-Norton tied the game at one when he converted on a power-play by firing a low point-shot through some feet and through Graham Hildebrand.
The North Stars grabbed a 2-1 lead when Troy Watt (1) banged home a rebound with 35 seconds remaining in the period.
The third period was filled with chances. The Stars were awarded two powerplays early in the period but were unable to take advantage.
The Mustangs tied it at the nine minute mark of the third when Brant Harris out-waited everybody and slid a pass across to Cole Gibson who converted.
The final 10 minutes were filled with chances but yielded no goals. Overtime would be needed for the first time in the series.
Though it seemed like the Stars were 'treading water' through the first 60 minutes, they came out with great jump in overtime.
Shay Neufeld nearly ended it early but just missed converting on a Josh Daley rebound.
Shortly after that, Brant Harris skated in on a two-on-one but decided to pass instead of shoot. Woody Klassen sprawled across and blocked the pass and back the other direction came the Stars.
Mitch Wall grabbed the puck at center, split the D and then roofed one on Chris Ward to win the game.
The Stars finished 0-4 on the power-play while Melfort went 1-5.
For a third straight game, Graham Hildebrand was the difference. He made several key stops and is enjoying a 'coming out party' of sorts during the playoffs. He's won all three games he's played and has not surrendered more than two goals in a game.
The Stars have a chance to wrap up the series with the Mustangs on Sunday night at the Civic Center. The puck drops at 7:30.
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Also, a big thanks to all of the folks who watched from the Civic Center 'Hot Stove Lounge.' It was great knowing that you wete watching and cheering.
We'll see you Sunday.
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2 comments:
Great game tonight, i would have liked to take those garbage can lids shove them where the sun dont shine. That is BS that the visitors have to go through that as security did nothing but great redemption, none of those punks stayed around to take there medicine like men. Woody deserves the monster award that play he made just before wall scored Dom should be thanking him alot.
That was a great game!! Wallsy had a beautiful goal!! We needed him to come out big tonight, and he didn't disappoint.
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