A playoff feel at the Mel, and once again the North Stars and Ice Wolves treated fans (and listeners) to a tremendous affair. Lots of hits, saves and drama, and in the end La Ronge skated away with a gutsy 4-3 victory.
The Stars trailed 2-0 early as Logan Herauf and Doug Lindensmith scored in the first nine minutes to put the Wolves up 2-0.
Keith Grondin helped turn the tide with two goals of his own, and after one period it was 2-2. Each team managed a powerplay goal in the first.
Early in the second, the Stars struck again, this time short-habded. Keith Grondin connected for his third of the game at 3:24 of the second to give the Stars a brief 3-2 lead. The lead lasted all of 22 seconds.
Doug Lindensmith notched his second of the game on the next shift and things were all squared again.
Midway through the period, tempers started flaring. Cris Neurauter threw a massive (and clean) open-ice check on Marc-Andre Carre. Seconds later, Travis Eggum went after Neurauter and the two 20-year-olds went at it. Eggum was given a two, a five and a ten and didn't return until the 11-minute mark of the final period.
The only goal of the third came 9:27 in off the stick of Graham Smerek. Smerek made a nice fake-move behind Kyle Birch's net, forced him one-way and then wrapped around to the other to give La Ronge the lead and ultimsately the victory.
The Stars went one-for-five on the powerplay while La Ronge finished two of eight. The Stars outshot the Wolves 41-39.
Fans won't have to wait long for a rematch as these two meet again on Friday night at the Civic Center.
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3 comments:
The SJHL site shows that the Wolves only went 1/8 on the PP but Dan you have them at 2/8. Of course I like the SJ site stat. better because if it is correct, the Stars penalty kill must have been very good against the best PP in the league and 8 penalties is a lot in such a close game. I hope the PK continues to improve for the rest of the season. I'm really looking forward to Friday.
Hey stars fans lets see if we can get 9-1000 for this game on Friday night!
I had the privlege of being up in Laronge last night for that game. Wow Dan your right awesome game. But, Stars have a tendency to be a little inconsistent at times this year. Fan noise and support will go along way to seeing that the Stars don't stink out the joint at home. Laronge is even more determined to win by even more goals next game watch out when the Wolves get on that game face of theirs. With a back to back like this could be interesting. So go buy your tickets before game day ok. That 1st line of Laronge is a treat to watch wow all over the ice. Laronge has a real strong passing game. Birch played well some highlite saves for sure as when the Wolves start that wave of attack you got to be ready. Carre is amazing. Grondin was on his game for sure but needs help come on Stars could have been a long night without those three. Laronge coaching staff has got those guys humming. They are over all in first place for a reason. They have amazing fans, community support, great coaching staff and a real off ice team building program that shows on the ice. So Stars, team, coaching staff, fans step up and lets see a great fan support on Friday night and for the rest of the year!
@ 1st anonymous though it will be taken as official, the site is wrong. One of the Stars penalties started after the other expired (due to 3 penalties) and thus extending the powerplay.
Lindensmith's second goal should also be a powerplay marker.
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