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WHL Saskatoon Blades

3rd Period Comeback Falls Short against Americans

January 16, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - One minute and thirty-seven seconds is all it took for the Tri-City Americans to open a 3-0 lead. A lead which ultimately led to the Blades defeat, a 4-3 loss in Kennewick on Friday night. Two short handed goals, along with a Bowles even strength marker in the 2nd period was to much for the Blades to handle.

Parker, Colorado native, Evan Smith, started in goal tonight for the Blades and was sensational in the 1st period, stopping a barrage of Americans chances. Making his first start since being pulled in Moose Jaw last Saturday night, Smith made 14 saves in the opening frame, to keep the game scoreless.

The 2nd period was one to forget for the Blades, with Parker Bowles in the box serving a double minor for roughing, the Blades looked poised to take the lead. It was the Americans however, who capitalized on the Saskatoon man advantage.

Jordan Topping first finished off a 2-on-1 with Beau McCue. 33 seconds later, a turnover behind the Blades net led to a wide open cage for Maxwell James who capitalized on the shorthanded chance, the third shorthanded goal given up by the Blades in the past two games.

"Early on on the power play I don't know if we just weren't into it, we weren't making passes," said Blades defenceman Nolan Reid.

"Things just weren't clicking right," said Blades centre Braylon Shmyr. "We weren't moving the puck right, we had a couple bad bounces that cost us."

A Bowles marker a minute later would put the Americans up 3-0, and that's where the game stood after 40 minutes.

The Blades would make the game interesting in the 3rd as the team dug deep to try and mount a comeback.

Braylon Shmyr would get the Blades on the board with a nifty move in front to lift the puck over goaltender Evan Sarthou in tight.

Tri-City would regain the 3-goal lead, but the Blades were undeterred. Mason McCarty brought Saskatoon back within two, laying into a drop pass from Logan Christensen, beating Sarthou up high.

"It's a great feeling," said Reid. "All the boys are working hard in that 3rd period. We're talking, everyone's excited on the bench and getting those goals was a big boost for us.

Shmyr would add another goal later in the frame, his 2nd of the game, and 4th in his past 3 games, which brought the Blades within a goal. (Shmyr finished the night as the game's 2nd star.)

"I'm just keeping things simple," said Shmyr on what he attributes his recent success to. "[I'm] trying to use my line mates, just trying to shoot the puck, and heading to the net."

"He was brought in here to score and that's exactly what he's doing," said Brockman on Shmyr. "Big times players, we need them to play big."

That's as close as the Blades would come however as they could not find the tying goal late in the period, despite a glorious chance by Shmyr in the dying seconds. The 3rd period did more than make the game closer, it gave the Blades some much needed momentum heading into their next game.

"It's huge, we gotta play the right way and I think that's playing the right way," said Brockman. "If we can carry that into tomorrow, we'll be a much better team."

Saskatoon will now cross state lines into Oregon as they take on the Portland Winterhawks, tomorrow night at the Moda Center. Game time is 9PM Saskatchewan time from Portland. Tune into 92.9 The Bull and listen live to Les Lazaruk on the air, or follow along on Twitter and through the Blades app with live scoring updates.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2016


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