Highlights: 

The Estevan Bruins have pulled the broom out of the closet and now have it poised over the Battlefords North Stars, after a game three 5-2 victory Monday night in Affinity Place in front of 1,744 fans.

Zach Goberis opened the tap to lead the way in the gritty conflict, smashing a puck past Stars netminder Joel Grysbowski just over 4 minutes into the first period, on a feed from Arthur Miller and Mark Edmands. This was followed a couple moments later by his second from Jonny Witzke and Michael McChesney. The Colorado native went on to complete a hat trick in the second period, although not before MacGregor Sinclair managed to sneak a goal halfway through the first on a powerplay.

The third frame was dry for the North Stars, while captain Jake Fletcher scored nearly 8 minutes in. A bewildered and enraged Battlefords squad withdrew Grysbowski twice in an attempt salvage something with an extra attacker, but that just allowed Michael McChesney to sign the insurance papers on a Bruins win with an empty netter, as the clock read just under 2 minutes left in play.

VIDEO: Bruins Win Game 3 Over Battlefords

Estevan's version of Iron Man in goaltender Bo Didur was all over the map, or crease as it were, calmly slamming doors left, right and center on the increasingly frustrated North Stars and stopping all but two of the 36 shots fired at him.

The ire of the Bruins' opponents really boiled over near the end of the third frame. A skirmish in the corner became a roiling volcano when Cole Johnson ran at Estevan's Austin King-Cunningham, who was beginning to exchange blows with another Star, and bowled him to the ice. A 5 minute major for charging and a 10 minute misconduct were handed down, and further action from the SJHL may potentially follow. Meanwhile, King-Cunningham hauled himself to his feet with a grin on his bleeding and stitch-requiring face, as he more than accomplished his fun in agitating the foes.

The Bruins now have their feet on the throat of the North Stars with a 3-0 stranglehold on the semifinal series. The two forces face off once again on Tuesday night in Affinity Place, with Estevan looking to swing that broom and Battlefords hoping to keep their heads above water for another 60 minutes.

Puck drop is at 7:30 PM, and the game can also be heard on Rock 106 starting with the pregame show at 7:20.

Jake Fletcher celebrates after his third period goal. (Photo: Durr Photography)