The Battlefords North Stars leaned on their top line again, combining for six points in a 3-2 Game 3 win over the Yorkton Terriers to take a 2-1 lead in their semifinal series on Wednesday night.
Battlefords struck first for the second straight game, as Finlay Klippenstein buried a loose puck for his fifth of the playoffs. Yorkton answered quickly, with Thomas Ries finishing a give-and-go to even things at 1-1 after one.
In the second, the North Stars’ power play delivered, with Owen Nelson finishing a cross-crease feed to restore the lead. Ries struck again early in the third—his second of the night—to tie it 2-2, but Anthony Campbell responded minutes later, jamming home the winner off a goalmouth scramble.
The North Stars’ top unit continues to dominate, now holding the top three spots in SJHL playoff scoring, led by Josh Knittig with 17 points.
In goal, Kaeden Serpa returned to make 29 saves for the win, while Callum Creig turned aside 28 in his ninth straight start for Yorkton.
The North Stars continued their perfect home record improving to 4-0 on home ice in the playoffs, while the Terriers fell to 2 and 2 on the road.
Game 4 goes Wednesday night in North Battleford before the series shifts back to Yorkton for Game five on Saturday night at the Westland Insurance Arena.
In the other semifinal, the Flin Flon Bombers picked up their second straight win, downing the Weyburn Red Wings 3-1 on the road at the Whitecap Resources Center.
Charlie Tritt was stellar once again, stopping 38 shots, with his shutout bid broken late by Aidan Mohan.
Rhett Ewen opened the scoring, while Connor Miller netted the eventual winner.
The Bombers can push the series to 3-1 in Game 4 Wednesday in Weyburn before it shifts back north for Game 5.
