The Battlefords Midget Stars have one game remaining in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League season and unfortunately they aren't carrying much momentum into the game.
The Stars played in Saskatoon on the weekend, taking on the Contacts Saturday and Blazers Sunday. The Battlefords lost both games and now fall into February drought having lost their last five games.
Saturday, Cody Pongracz started the scoring, as he put the Contacts in front 1-0.
The Stars evened the scored with a powerplay goal with 45 seconds remaining in the first. It was Jesse Gerbig scoring his 15th of the season from Colby Daniels and Eric Pfeifer.
In the second, Vukie Mpuku beat Blair Mahon to put Saskatoon back in front with a powerplay goal.
The Stars tied the game again in the final minute of the period, again on a powerplay. This time it was Colby Cave scoring unassisted.
Early in the third period, again on another powerplay, the Stars capitalized and Cave scored his 13th of the season from Garrett Zelinski and Regan Yew.
Saskatoon tied the game later in the third period with a Rourke Chartier goal and it remained 3-3 heading into overtime.
With 31 second left in the extra period and the Contacts on a powerplay, Nick Ellason beat Mahon to win the game.
The Stars were 3/6 on the powerplay while the Contacts were 2/3.
Mahon made 33 saves in the loss while Mack Shields stopped 29 for the win.
The next day, the Stars moved across Saskatoon and took on the Blazers, who, like the Stars, are on the outside of the playoff picture.
Wyatt Johnson and Matt McLeod scored first period goals to put the Blazers in front 2-0 heading into the intermission.
Blake Young drew the Stars to within a goal, as he notched his team leading 17th goal of the season. Cave and Daniels assisted on Young's powerplay marker.
Saskatoon increased the lead to 4-1 before the second ended, as Justin Schoffer and Matt Saunderson scored. Saunderson's goal came just as time was expiring in the second on the powerplay.
David Miazga padded the Blazers' lead with a powerplay goal in the third while Cody Thiel scored from Cave and Zachary Klebaum to complete the scoring. Theil's goal, which made it 5-2, was his ninth goal of the season, making him the highest scoring defenceman on the Battlefords rosters with a six goal and nine point lead on the next best point producing defenceman.
Sunday, Regan Santoro made 29 saves in the loss while Ryland Pashovitz stopped 28 in the win.
The 11th place Stars wrap up the season against the first place Prince Albert Mintos Thursday in Prince Albert.
The Mintos are in a tight one-point battle with the Contacts and Moose Jaw to see which team lands in first and which fall into second and third in the standings. The Notre Dame Argos and Regina Pats are battling for home ice advantage and the fourth and fifth place spot. Beardy's, Tisdale and Yorkton are locked into the final playoff spots with a chance to change the standings in the final week.
