In what is usually a tough road trip, facing Melbourne’s two league teams in the one weekend, the North Stars were able to claim two wins and strengthen their position at the top of the standings.

On Saturday, the North Stars held off 2014 champions the Mustangs to win 4-3.

The North Stars backed up the result on Sunday with a 4-2 win against rivals the Melbourne Ice.

US import Luke Moffatt, a Colorado Avalanche NHL draft pick, showed his mettle in Saturday’s game against the Mustangs, racking up two goals to put the North Stars ahead 2-0.

A goal from defenceman Matt Lindsay saw the North Stars head into period two with a 3-0 lead.

One more from Moffatt in the second period, completing a hat-trick for the American, was the last for the Newcastle side.

Despite the Mustangs coming back to score three goals, it was not enough to defeat the visiting Newcastle side.

Coach Andrew Petrie said it was their best period of hockey from the team in the first period followed by their worst period of hockey in the second period. 

‘‘The third period was a gritty fight to hold on to our lead,” he said.

On Sunday, it was the Melbourne Ice who held a 1-0  lead at the end of the first period.

But by the end of the second period it was the North Stars with the upper hand thanks to two goals from Canadian import Geordie Wudrick and one from Moffatt to leave the score at 3-1 heading into the final 20 minutes of play.

One more goal from Wudrick in the final period sealed the deal for the North Stars.

Goalie Dayne Davis was one of several players praised by coach Andrew Petrie.

He said Davis conceded only five goals against 80 shots.

A rematch of Sunday’s game against the Ice will be played at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Warners Bay on Saturday, May 9.