Giving up goals in the late stages of the first two periods proved to be the Norman Northstars’ downfall against the Pembina Valley Hawks Oct. 14.
Tyson Allson and Riley Goertzen scored in the last three minutes of the opening frame to put the Hawks up 2-1 after Henry Muchikekwanape had given the Northstars a 1-0 lead with a power play goal less than five minutes into the game.
Justin Hobbs extended the Hawks’ lead to three early in the second period but Jamie Valentino reduced the margin to two with a breakaway goal at the 15:32 mark just after getting out of the penalty box.
Goertzen put the Hawks up three once again when he backhanded in a rebound from the top of the crease with just over a minute to go in the second period.
Muchikekwanape made a one-goal game of it with back-to-back goals three minutes apart to complete a hat trick in the first five minutes of the third period but Andrew Boucher scored four minutes later to put the Hawks back up by two. Bazin got Pembina Valley’s seventh goal into an empty net with 1:23 left in the game.
Shots were 37-31 for the Hawks, who got 27 saves from Brock Moroz, while Melsted stopped 29 shots.
Pembina Valley scored goals in bunches on the evening of Oct. 13, getting eight even-strength markers and four power play goals in a 12-2 rout.
Goertzen opened the scoring in the game’s first five minutes and Jacob Carels made it 2-0 Hawks near the first period’s midway point. Jordan Pfoh reduced the lead to one with a power play goal for the Northstars 1:55 into the second period but the Hawks responded with goals from Tyler Park, Cameron Brunn, Caelan Russell and Carels to lead 6-1 going into the final period.
Roux Bazin and Brunn added power play goals in the first five minutes of the final frame before Hunter Rambow connected on a penalty shot for the Northstars. Bazin, Brunn, Boucher and Trent Penner scored at even strength for the Hawks in the game’s last 15 minutes.
Rylan Potkonjak made 23 saves on 33 shots in 47:41 of playing time before being replaced by Braedin Melsted, who stopped seven of nine shots the rest of the way. Dylan Meilun stopped 30 of 32 shots for the Hawks.
The Northstars are on the road Oct. 19-21 against the Central Plains Capitals, Southwest Cougars and Parkland Rangers as they look for their first win of the season.
