By Craig Stein
ONE WIN AWAY FROM CANALTA CUP FINAL
The Battlefords North Stars are now one victory away from the SJHL Canalta Cup Final, after they went on the road and beat the Estevan Bruins 5-2 on Monday, to take a 3-0 stranglehold in their Best-of-Seven league Semi-Final.
Coby Downs added three more assists to his staggering totals, giving him now 16 points (including 15 assists) in just seven post season games.
Layne Young scored twice for the Stars, opening the scoring just 34 seconds into the game, before adding a short-handed marker at the 7:55 mark. Downs assisted on both, and also helped set up a Keaton Holinaty powerplay goal in the third period. Troy Gerein added a late first period goal, and Connor Manegre rounded out the scoring with an empty-netter.
Taryn Kotchorek made 22/24 saves in the win.
The Bruins did make a game of it as Jason Miller and Matt McNeil (1g-1a) cut the Stars’ lead to 3-2. Nathan Alalouf was lifted after the Stars made it 3-0 and Curtis Meger came in and stopped 23/24 shots the rest of the way.
Estevan needs a win to stay alive when they host Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Also Tuesday, the Nipawin Hawks take a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 in Flin Flon.
