The North Stars, now sitting atop the league’s ladder with 60 points, surpassed their previous highest point score record of 57.

Last weekend’s games were described by coach Andrew Petrie as “a tale of two halves”.

Against the Canberra Brave on Saturday, the North Stars came from behind twice to level the game and force it to shootout.

Petrie described the team’s effort as “phenomenal” despite losing the shootout 6-5.

“The collective grit and determination of the boys to keep fighting to win Saturday night was pretty extraordinary,” Petrie said.

“All things being equal, we had already clinched the minor premiership and the boys just refused to lose.

“You can’t coach that.”

There was no sign of fatigue when the North Stars fronted the Bears on Sunday.

“The challenge for the boys, again already having clinched the title, was to set our own tempo and continue to drill our own systems,” Petrie said.

“I thought they did a really good job of that.”

The depth of North Stars’ goal-scoring talent was evident with eight goals scored by five players.

Brian Bales was the first to score five minutes into the first period followed by Jan Safar.

The Bears scored early in the second period but goals by Shane Southwood and Scott Swiston saw the North Stars run away with the lead.

Geordie Wudrick and Swiston scored early in the third.

The Bears replied with a second goal; however goals by Wudrick and Safar sealed the game 8-2.

The North Stars play their final home game against Sydney Ice Dogs on Sunday at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium before heading to Melbourne for finals.

The North Stars will play fourth placed Canberra Brave in the semi-final while Melbourne Ice and Perth Thunder would play the second semi-final.