Make it a baker's dozen straight losses for the Humboldt Broncos against the Battlefords Stars.

Saturday night in North Battleford they completed their second consecutive season sweep of the green and cold with a 3-0 win in their sixth and final contest of the campaign.

During the streak a handful of the match ups were over long before the middle point of regulation due to the Stars' dominance but on this night it was missed opportunities leading to their demise in a winnable game.

Included in that was two first period power plays and 13 shots but they couldn't generate a goal and went to the first break still scoreless.

The visitors had another man advantage in the opening minute in the second period and couldn't capitalize on that chance either.

Battlefords then generated their own chance including a 5-on-3 power-play for 1:13. They needed all of that and more before the Stars finally broke the deadlock, Coby Downs made it 1-0 at 7:07 during the second penalty.

Humboldt was granted with another glorious opportunity, Jared Blaquiere clipped Connor Swystun with a high stick late in the frame sending the Broncos' leader to to hospital in Saskatoon to receive over ten stitches in his cheek plus other scratches. Blaquiere was assessed a major penalty for the incidental yet dangerous infraction.

Unfortunately the Broncos power-play couldn't convert and generated just one shot.

Downs would add his second of three shortly thereafter, he completed the hat trick into an empty net at 18:06.

"We took it to them in some parts in the first and you're right, there definitely isn't a better period than we have played against the Battlefords in two years," Assistant Coach Brayden Klimosko answered on the post game show regarding the opening 20 minutes. "It was great to see but at the end of the day it comes down to results and we didn't get any here tonight."

Downs, along with his linemates Ben Allen and Layne Young who each had three assists combined for 36 points in the six games played between the clubs this year. 

The shot clock heavily favoured the Stars, 43-23, although the play didn't appear that one sided. The final result was a story of a team making their opponent pay for their mistakes. 

"We've just got to find ways to score goals," Klimosko continued. "Everyone is gripping their stick a little bit tight and hopefully we get out of this funk. If you keep playing like that it's going to come, hopefully we don't get frustrated here."

Overall the Broncos went 0/4 on the PP, the Battlefords clicked on 1/3. Garret Mason stopped 40 shots in the loss, he made 79 saves on 85 shots over two games on back to back nights.

The Broncos will cap a grueling three games in four day and four in six stretch Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock when they conclude their season series with the Nipawin Hawks during a Family Day holiday matinee. Bring your skates and helmet for a skate with the Broncos after the game.

Tickets are available here.

The playoff race is getting interesting with now just over two weeks remaining in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League regular season. The Broncos did secure themselves a spot in the post season after a one year absence but the key is staying in the top six and avoiding the survivor series. They are in 5th place overall but three teams are knotted in sixth just a pair of points back. You can view the SJHL standings here.

On Saturday Estevan edged Notre Dame 3-2 in overtime, Melville nipped Kindersley 3-2, also in OT, Flin Flon blanked the Hawks 4-0 and Weyburn routed LaRonge 9-2.

You can hear more from Klimosko below as well as from first intermission guest Connor Swystun who just played his 200th career regular season game with the Broncos on Wednesday night.