The Weyburn Red Wings found themselves down early against the Battlefords North Stars Friday night, and the North Stars made the most of it, skating to a 5-1 win over the Wings in the first game of their best-of-seven quarterfinal series.

The North Stars opened the scoring just before the nine minutes mark of the first period. Chaseton Braid fired the puck in from a sharp angle, somehow sneaking it past the short side of Red Wings goaltender Arik Weersink.

Just two and a half minutes later, the Stars added to their lead thanks to a quirky bounce. Weersink attempted to clear the puck out of the zone while the Wings were on the power play along the boards. It clipped the skate of the referee, and jumped out, onto the stick of Cole Johnson. Johnson wasted little time getting the puck into the net, making it a 2-0 game.

Layne Young would finish up the scoring in the period with his first of the postseason. The goal, with 7:06 left on the clock, also ended the night for Weersink, who was replaced by Liam McCloskey.

The WIngs would get on the board in the second period. 2:13 into the middle frame, the Wings found themselves on a power play. Red Wings captain Mike Eskra ripped a shot on net from the point, and it beat Joel Grzybowski. Jordan Kazymyra picked up his third assist of the playoffs, and Landon Walters picked up the other helper.

The North Stars regained their lead on a power play of their own just a few moments later. MacGregor Sinclair’s point shot was tipped by Keith Anderson, restoring the three-goal lead for the North Stars. It was followed up by a goal from Owen Lamb less than two minutes later, making it a 5-1 game.

The Red Wings will have little time to bounce back. The two teams are back on the ice Saturday night in The Battlefords. The puck drops at the North Battleford Civic Centre at 7:30 p.m. You can catch all the action, starting with the pregame show, at 7:20 p.m. on Red Wing Radio, K106.