Ward Szucki joked before the game that he wanted to get three against his former team. He may want to buy a lottery ticket, because he did indeed score three and the Humboldt Broncos beat the Battlefords North Stars 4-2.
The Stars got off to a terrific start as Cole Gibson buried his 18th of the season off a Travis Sparrow point shot, and the Stars quickly took a 1-0 lead.
The lead didn't last too long as Ward Szucki soon converted off an Adam Antkowiak pass on a delayed-penalty to tie the score at one. 20 seconds later, Szucki scored again. Only this time he let a slapper go from the Star's blueline. The shot seemed to confuse Kyle Birch who looked like he never saw it.
From there, the Stars regained control. They peppered Humboldt netminder Andrew Bodnarchuk with 22 first period shots, but only came away with the one goal, and they trailed 2-1 after one.
Early in the second, the Stars tied the score when Robbie Newton converted on a Kyle Hall pass from behind the goal. Hall was forced into double-shifting dutie when Luke Hannas left the game after only a few first-period shifts. Newton's third of the season tied the score at two.
Humboldt quickly bounced back though. Off a failed end-zone clearing attempt, Cameron Ballas skated in and threw a shot on goal. Humboldt forward Taylor Johnson tipped it past Kyle Birch to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead. The Stars managed just six shots in the second, and were largely out-played by the Broncos.
The Stars got several power-play chances in the third period, but ended up unsuccessful. The most bizzare moment of the third came when Brent Pisio got into a physical exchange with the Battlefords North Star's bench. Pisio was kicked out of the game, but the Stars were unable to capitalize on the power-play.
With less than two minutes to go, Star's defenceman Cris Neurauter took an accidental high-sticking penalty which put Humboldt on a late man-advantage, and with the net empty, Szucki scored his third of the game off a neutral-zone turnover.
The win gives Humboldt their 28th of the year, and more importantly puts them eight points ahead of the North Stars for third in the Bauer Conference. The Stars did manage 41 shots on goal, but Andrew Bodnarchuk stood his ground, and put forth one of his best performances of the season against the Stars.
Neither team was able to score on the powerplay.
After the game, a frustrated Ken Pearson continued to stress that his top six forwards needed to be better and needed to be more opportunistic. The trio of Blake Tatchell, Cole Gibson and Colin Phaneuf had many chances early in the game, as did Keith Grondin, Kyle Hall and Braedon Johnson.
Thankfully for the Stars, the La Ronge Ice Wolves beat Flin Flon, meaning that Flin Flon remains a single point behind the Battlefords North Stars for fourth place in the Bauer Conference. The Stars head North a day early tomorrow in lew of the Friday-Saturday weekend series at the Whitney Forum this weekend.
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14 comments:
Not sure what the problem is with this team, leadership, motivation? They seem to have the skill but are unwilling to pay the price and make the sacrifice that it takes to win on a regular basis. Can't see them making it past the survivor series.
I thought the stars played a hell of a game last night. We out shot the oposition and in the thrid period we out played them a lot. A bad bounce lost the hockey game. It was a playoff like atmosphere. We lost by one goal buddy. Anything can happen in the playoffs. I thought the stars played hard. For a team that hadnt played for a week I thought they looked pretty good. When you can out shoot a team and play most of a period in there end,youve done something right..
We you sleeping through the game. Even the coach said the team played like crap last night. It was one of the more boring games i have seen this year. They haven't played for a week and haven't won for two weeks, not a good sign.
Somebody needs to explain to Kenny that the key to winning hockey games starts from the backend out. Until things improve defensively this team aint goin anywhere
Ya because in the 15 some years he's been coaching, he probably has no idea how its done. While you're at it, maybe tell the music man to stop playing so much Shania Twain. That will have just as much impact on the outcome of the game. Thanks Tips.
well thank you very much, the team struggles and its the musicmans fault how so?????? that being said hard for me not to say what i truely would like to but as a volunteer thats the thanks i get and its one song, my god if that is the only thing that u have to worry about buddy you need a life. well dan this is not what i expect to read on your blog when the team struggles a dig at me it is uncalled for and i think you should change the blog to having user names because this person has to hide behind anonymous.
GIVE ME A BREAK....GROW UP Anonymous 5: Volunteers are what makes a hockey club run... In fact they are the REASON a hockey team can run. I love the music at the rink and I am very proud to say the stars have the best music man in the league.. Ive been to other rinks and the music is either non existant or very poor... Music man, I thank you for the countless hours you spend playing music at the rink, whether its at AAA games or at the Junior A stars game, its people like yourself that make a hockey team who they are.... Thanks...
We had a coach here that coached 22 years of european hockey and where did that get us. Just because you have coached 15 years doesn,t mean crap. If an NHL coach gets fired cause the team is on a losing streak and they get another and about three or four games the team is winning again.And these coachs have coached for many years that should be telling you something.
Music man, I apologize. My post was supposed to be filled with sarcasm. What I meant was that telling a coach who has been coaching that long what it takes to win is ridiculous. The same as telling you what songs to play, or the bartenders what kind of whiskey to serve, or Dale Jackson how to tie his shoes. You've all been doing it long enough to know what to do. I do agree that our music is the best. Sorry Man. anonymous 5
Okay everyone calm down, obviously anon #5 was joking. The comments in this blog are always full of sarcasm, get used to it.
I have been a supporter of Ken's this year. I think he has been able to get talent and make good trades. I don't know much about schemes but I do know that a coach shouldn't throw his hands in the air when it is very obvious the team is need of motivation and leadership. I know that it is the time of year when you would think the players should be able to motivate themselves but this is a team that has only gone beyond the 1st round of playoffs once in the past several years. They need to be told that they have what it takes and they need to be told this in many different ways. I was impressed that Ken took the time to do some serious coaching during the delay due to the glass issue when Humboldt's Coach just watched his players talk amongst themselves. If motivating his team is not his strong point, there's no shame in asking for help in this area. I have faith that we will get out of this mini slump but I'd feel better if Ken was more optimistic.
To the last poster: Where have you been?????? The stars have only gone past the first round once in several years??? You obviously are not a north star fan..... I'll take you back a few years..... Please someone correct me if I am wrong... A few years ago we were in the league final twice in 2 years... once with Sauts then once with Watson.. Watson left and the stars got clark,we beat Nipawin in the first round then lost to?? Humboldt I do believe. Then we had the distatorious season with clark when we only won 5 games. Then Ken took over and.. In Kens first year (remember he inherited a team that won 5 games the year before) If I am not mistaken we played Nipawin in the first round and beat them, then we played the eventual RBC Humboldt Broncos and took them to a game 6.... Kens second year( last season) we beat Melfort in the first round and then lost to the eventual Credit Union Cup Champions Laronge Icewolves.. You Cant just all of a sudden snap your fingers and poof theres a championship team. I think for what Ken was given when he took over an absolute mess has done a phenominal job... Remember 2 years ago Bob Beatty's Laronge Icewolves didnt even make the playoffs and the next year they won the League.. I am gona cheer on the stars till the final buzzer.. Once playoffs begin its a new season.
Uhhh to the last post - A survivor series is not considered the 1st round of playoffs.
It technically is a round of playoffs tho... That is true..
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