The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins will be more than happy to return home after a disappointing start to their semi-final series in Battlefords.

After falling 7-4 in the opener on Friday, Estevan dropped Game 2 by a 5-1 score on the road in Battlefords as the North Stars now lead the Best-of-7 series (2-0) with the series shifting back to Affinity Place for Games 3 & 4.

READ MORE: Game 1 Recap

The Bruins' were looking for a bounce-back performance after what the coaching staff believed was one of their worst games played in months in Game 1.

But the script would play out in a similar first period of Game 2.

Battlefords once again opened the scoring as Keaton Holinaty found the bouncing puck off a faceoff and quickly snapped it past Estevan goaltender Nathan Alalouf to make it 1-0 just five minutes in.

The North Stars made it 2-0 shortly thereafter. After going 0/7 on the powerplay in Game 1, Layne Young picked the short-side on Battlefords first man-advantage of Game 2 to extend the lead.

Estevan would answer back with exactly 8:00 left in the first period. Matt McNeil rushed down the left wing and made a good, simple play of tossing the puck towards the net on the back hand. With traffic crashing the crease, Kaelan Holt lifted the rebound into the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1 and giving life to the Bruins' bench.

But that momentum would be extremely short-lived.

Just 11 seconds later, Battlefords rushed down the ice and crashed the net themselves as Logan Nachtengaale buried the loose puck to restore the North Stars' two-goal lead.

Ben Allen would score his SJHL-leading 7th goal of the playoffs on another powerplay for Battlefords to make the score 4-1 after 20 minutes of play. Shots were once again heavily in favour of Battlefords at 20-7.

Battlefords' Changed Goalies For Game 2 As Rookie Joel Gryzbowski Got The Win On Saturday.

Estevan would be unable to get back into the game during the first five minutes of the second period, then would spend the next six minutes in the penalty box with four consecutive minor penalties.

On the fourth one, the North Stars' Connor Logan buried a rebound off the end boards past Alalouf to extend Battlefords' lead once again to 5-1 after two periods.

Then, as issue with the ice surface caused a significant delay before the start of the 3rd period. While crews attempted to repair a melted hole in the ice, the two teams waited over an hour (66 minutes) before play finally resumed.

When it did, Estevan deployed backup goaltender Curtis Meger for the 3rd period. Meger made 15 saves in relief of Alalouf (5 GA on 33 shots) in the final frame, and the Bruins were unable to generate any offence against Battlefords as the North Stars held on for the 5-1 victory.

Battlefords sweeps the weekend set against the Bruins with the series now shifting back to Estevan on Monday and Tuesday.

Moments Before A Big Collision Between Estevan's Levi Barnstable And Battlefords' Troy Gerein.

GAME NOTES

- Special teams has been the difference in both games. Game 1: Battlefords with two shorthanded goals and an empty-net goal in a 7-4 win. Game 2: Battlefords went 3/9 on the powerplay in a 5-1 win. Estevan is 1/11 on the powerplay in the series.

- Battlefords has outshot Estevan 103-47 in the series while outscoring the Bruins 12-5.

- Estevan has never led in the series as Battlefords gained the lead 8:09 into Game 1 and 6:13 into the start of Game 2.

- Bruins' forward Isaac Embree left Game 2 late in the 3rd period after taking a hit into the boards. Embree will likely not return in the series with an upper-body injury.

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LISTEN LIVE

Games 3 & 4 return to Affinity Place in Estevan on Monday and Tuesday night at 7:30pm. The Bruins will look to even the series on home ice and force a Game 5 back in Battlefords on Thursday.