A hat trick, an old fashioned Gordie Howe hat trick and a combined eight points came from the trio of Tanner Schwab, Kyle Hall and Tim Rollins Tuesday night. That line's success against Humboldt's top line Tuesday night was the key to a North Stars' 7-4 victory.
"Hall, Rollins and Schwab were all over it tonight," said Battlefords North Stars head coach and general manager Ken Pearson "I thought they did a great job, and I matched them up against (Jeremy) Boyer's line all night and I think Boyer's line ended up being -4 on the night. Those guys came out and just went hard to the net."
The teams were feeling each other out early in the first, but creating scoring chances at the same time. The North Stars grabbed the momentum when Samuel Houle nailed Boyer trying to cross the North Stars' blue-line. Five minutes later, the North Stars got on the board, as Hall reached around Andrew Bodnarchuk and tucked a rebound into the net. Cody Folstad, who took the shot from the point, had the assist.
Later in the period, Hall was looking for more, but was robbed by Bodnarchuk on a cross-crease pass by Rollins.
With less than three minutes remaining in the period, Humboldt beat Kyle Birch for the first time. After Birch made a brilliant save on Justin Buzzeo on a breakaway, Buzzeo circled from the corner with the rebound and beat Birch top corner.
Humboldt was on a powerplay late in the first and looking for the go-ahead-goal, but this time Birch made a big glove save on Buzzeo, who one timed a shot from the slot.
"He made some big stops, especially early," said Pearson of his goalie.
After 20 minutes, the score was tied 1-1 and the North Stars out shot the Broncos 16-11.
Early in the second, on another powerplay, Nick Keller scored after putting the puck in the net once it bounced off the end boards and behind Birch.
One minute and one second later, Taylor Johnson increased the Broncos' lead, as he dove to put a puck around Birch's glove.
Over a minute later, Schwab scored his third of the season as a rebound hit his feet while he was driving to the net. The ref ruled it wasn't kicked in intentionally and Hall and Rollins had the assists on the North Stars' second goal.
Five minutes later, the North Stars were looking for more and Blake Tatchell nearly tied the game, but ran out of room after two nice dekes from the corner and circling to his backhand.
Later in the second, on a powerplay, the North Stars showed great puck control on the outside and eventually moved the puck to the net where Hall scored his second of the game from Schwab and Folstad.
The second period ended tied, just as the first did and the North Stars led 29-24 in the shot column.
The first five minutes of the third frame were when the North Stars took control of the game for good. Woody Klassen blew a point shot by Bodnarchuk at 1:04. Klassen's seventh of the season tied him for the team lead in defenceman goals with Brody Luhning. The goal was assisted by Tatchell and Colin Phaneuf.
The North Stars were on the attack again 1:12 later, as Travis Cech scored his seventh of the season off the rush. Samuel Fortier and Shayne Morrissey drew the assists.
Just 1:07 later, Tatchell made a deke and had the puck slide by Bodnarchuk for his 14th of the season. Schwab and Keith Grondin were credited with the assists.
The next shift, Tanner Schwab earned the Gordie Howe hat trick with an assist, goal and fight, as he dropped the gloves with Logan Sproule at centre ice.
The fight didn't seem to give Humboldt any momentum, as Hall completed his hat trick the next shift converting on a beautiful cross-crease pass from Boyd Wakelin. Hall's third of the night and 11th of the season was also assisted by Folstad.
Birch made a couple big saves later in the third period and had help once from the crossbar, as the North Stars were poised to earn their fifth win in six games.
Adam Zbitniff tapped in a cross-crease pass later in the third on the powerplay and the final score was 7-4.
"It is a huge confidence boost. We had a down game Sunday, but I thought we bounced back and had some big efforts from some guys tonight and it is nice to see some guys get rewarded here," said Pearson.
Thursday the North Stars started a stretch of seven straight games on the road including stops in Stanley Mission to play La Ronge, Nipawin, Flin Flon, Yorkton, Melville and Weyburn to play Kindersley and La Ronge in the Showcase.
"We talked about tonight and having a big night before heading out on the road and we know the games this weekend are going to be extremely tough and they are all division opponents, so they are all four point games," said Pearson. "We wanted to make sure when we left here tonight we were leaving on a high heading up to La Ronge."
