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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Come up Short in Red Deer, Fall 5-4 to the Rebels

October 3, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Red Deer, Alta. -- The Saskatoon Blades dropped their second straight game after coming up shy in a 5-4 loss to the Rebels on Tuesday night in Red Deer. Saskatoon now sits at 3-2 on the season and will continue their road swing on Wednesday night in Edmonton.

The Blades got off to a hot start in the early going, scoring two power play goals in the first period from Eric Florchuk and Josh Paterson. It was the first of the season for both forwards, with Dawson Davidson and Kirby Dach each picking up a pair of assists. The two goal lead was cut in half less than two minutes later when Chris Douglas fired a harmless shot towards the Blades goal that took a fortunate tip off a Blade defender's skate and through Nolan Maier's pads. Then the Rebels evened the game on their first power play thanks to a tip-in from Jeff de Wit.

Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen responded for the Blades quickly to give Saskatoon a 3-2 lead at the first intermission. Josh Paterson added his second point of the night with a nice drop feed to set up Marthinsen, who buried a wrist-shot through the five-hole of Red Deer backstop Ethan Anders.

The middle period was all Rebels as the home team took control of the momentum with three unanswered goals. Jeff de Wit scored his second of the night, another redirected shot past Maier. Saskatoon product Reese Johnson made it 4-2 Rebels, before Oelg Zaytsev scored the eventual winner for Red Deer on the power play.

Saskatoon displayed some push-back in the final period and got within one goal early enough to give themselves plenty of time to tie the hockey game. Riley McKay intercepted a puck inside the Red Deer zone and wristed a shot high, short-side over the blocker of Anders. McKay's 2nd of the season would be the final marker of the evening despite a late rally with six attackers on the ice.

Nolan Maier had a busy night turning aside 30/35 shots faced while Ethan Anders made 29 saves to earn his club the two points. The Blades' power play went 2/5 on the night, but only managed a 50% success rate on the penalty kill.

The Blades will now try to hit the reset button as they travel up the road to Edmonton looking to hand the 5-0-0-0 Oil Kings their first loss of the season.

Next home game for the Saskatoon Blades goes next Friday, 7:00pm at SaskTel Centre against the Red Deer Rebels.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2018


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