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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Drop Heartbreaker in OT, Trail 2-0 in Series

April 3, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Saskatoon Blades' Egor Sidorov and Jordan Keller take on Regina Pats' Braxton Whitehead and Corbin Vaughan
Saskatoon Blades' Egor Sidorov and Jordan Keller take on Regina Pats' Braxton Whitehead and Corbin Vaughan
(Saskatoon Blades)

Saskatoon, SK - The Saskatoon Blades came up just short in overtime, losing Game 2 of their first-round series 6-5 at SaskTel Centre against the Regina Pats.

Fighting tooth-and-nail up until the very end the Blades third period comeback was crushed by a forward Stanislav Svozil powerplay goal in the extra frame.

On the bright side, the Blades got offensive contributions from five different players after only netting one goal in Game 1. It's a hard game to lose as the Blades now trail 2-0 in the series heading to enemy territory for games 3 and 4.

Things got off to a rocky start for the Blue and Gold as Columbus Blue Jackets property Svozil scored his second of the series 5:08 into the first period to make it 1-0 Pats. The 2003-born forward banged a clap-bomb past rookie netminder Austin Elliott to give him his first of three points on the evening.

Regina built on that momentum when captain Connor Bedard lifted his third goal of the series over the shoulder of Elliott. It was only the beginning to a dominat night for the Regina superstar.

Wind seemed all but sucked out of the sails for the Blades, but forward Justin Lies erupted the crowd with his first of the playoffs late in the first. The Blades put pressure on in the offensive zone and Lies cashed in on a scramble in front of the visitors net. The Flin Flon, MB. native is a sneaky offensive threat for Saskatoon with skill and uses his big frame with great balance.

Lies' goal sent the Blades into first intermission trailing by only a goal, a huge boost for the Bridge City Bunch.

Saskatoon stormed out the gate early in the middle frame when forward Lukas Hansen roofed a nasty backhand over the shoulder of Pats netminder Drew Sim to make it 2-2. The Winnipeg, MB. native now has two goals this series and electrified over 10,500 Bridge City faithful in attendance.

Forward Zach Stringer put Regina back in front with a powerplay marker 5:32 into the second.

The Blades fought to tie it once again when Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Josh Pillar ripped one past Sim unassisted. The 20-year-old playmaker is a difference maker on the ice when he's on and it could be a good sign the skilled winger is heating up. Pillar was one of the Blades best forwards last postseason scoring three goals and four points in five games against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Answering back was none other than phenom Bedard who tallied his fourth point of the night on the go ahead goal.

That would be the end of Elliott's night as Saskatoon, SK's own Ethan Chadwick came in relief between the pipes.

No goals came for the remainder of the second period and it was time for Saskatoon to flip the switch.

Everyone's favourite carrot Jayden Wiens tied the game for the third time in the contest at the 8:32 mark of the final frame. The 5-foot-9 center notched an assist in Friday's game vs Regina and added another just 18-seconds later.

Fellow Saskatchewan linemate Vaughn Watterodt slammed home a loose puck near Sim for his first goal and third point of this postseason. The gritty winger blew the roof off SaskTel Centre giving Saskatoon their first lead of the series.

The joy was short lived. Bedard tucked a rebound off the post to complete the hat-trick just over halfway through the third. The WHL phenom finished the night with five points, giving him eight in two games this series.

Overtime was needed and a costly penalty by the Blades sealed their fate. Stringer scored his second after a behind-the-net centering feed just under three-minutes into the extra frame.

What's Next?

Saskatoon heads the Regina for games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday to try and even the series at the Brandt Centre.

Puck drop is 7:00pm for both teams.

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Images from this story

Saskatoon Blades' Egor Sidorov and Jordan Keller take on Regina Pats' Braxton Whitehead and Corbin Vaughan
Saskatoon Blades' Egor Sidorov and Jordan Keller take on Regina Pats' Braxton Whitehead and Corbin Vaughan
   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2023


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