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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Earn Sixth Straight Win With Victory Over The Broncos

March 8, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Saskatoon Blades' Ethan Chadwick and Tanner Molendyk
Saskatoon Blades' Ethan Chadwick and Tanner Molendyk
(Saskatoon Blades)

Saskatoon, SK - New heroes keep stepping up for the Saskatoon Blades.

Josh Pillar scored two goals Wednesday and helped lift the Blades past the Swift Current Broncos 5-3 at SaskTel Centre.

It was the final Heritage Night of the season, and the current edition of the Blades continue solidifying themselves as one of the best teams in the franchise's history.

The victory assures the Blades third seed in the WHL's Eastern Conference and guarantees the club home ice in the first round of the playoffs.

Winners in six consecutive games the Bridge City Bunch have extended their points streak to 11 games going 10-0-1-0. Saskatoon has the third most points in the WHL with 91, rocking a 43-13-4-1 record.

The Blades took the lead on the first shot of the hockey game from Pillar just 1:26 into the contest. The Warman, SK. native sniped from close range on a setup from forward Vaughn Watterodt after defenseman Charlie Wright raced the puck up the ice into the offensive zone. It was a meaningful goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs with it being his first since returning from injury. It was also Pillar's 50th goal in 222 career WHL games.

Both teams exchanged a handful of chances in the first period, but the Pillar tally held up as the only scoring in the first frame.

Play opened in the second period with chances and goals at both ends of the ice.

The visiting Broncos took three early penalties in the second period, a bad idea with the Blades powerplay who ranked second heading into tonight.

The Blue and Cold cashed in on their second man advantage thanks to Wiens tipping home his 16th goal of the season on a point shot fired by captain De La Gorgendiere less than four minutes into the middle stanza to double the Blades' lead.

Less than four-minutes after Saskatoon made it 2-0, defenseman Tanner Molendyk slapped his eighth goal of the season unassisted past Broncos goaltender Reid Dyck to stretch the lead to three. McBride, BC's own is expected to potentially go in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft this June and he's making a great case for it with seven goals and 34 points in 60 games. Skating first comes to mind when Molendyk's name is mentioned but every other aspect to his game is also dangerous.

Swift Current responded with two quick goals just past the midway point of the second. Forward Clarke Caswell got the Broncos on the scoreboard with his eighth goal of the season. The 5-foot-10 winger from Brandon, MB. has 27 points in 55 games this season, three of which have come in his last three outings.

New Jersey Devils prospect Josh Filmon brought the Broncos within one just under two-minutes later. The goal extended the 18-year-old's point streak to eight games with still more to offer in the third period.

Pillar struck for his second goal of the game with just 17-seconds remaining in the second to give the Blades a 4-2 lead heading to the third. Wednesday marked Pillar's first multi-goal game as a member of the Blades and raises his season totals to six goals and 15 points in 21 games played.

Filmon counted his second goal of the evening and 43rd of the season, good for third in the WHL, 3:22 into the third period. The powerplay marker drew Swift Current back within one.

Desperate for a playoff berth, the Broncos pressured throughout the third looking for the equalizer. Netminder Ethan Chadwick stood tall the rest of the way in net for Saskatoon, making 36 saves in the 5-3 victory. The Saskatoon, SK. product's record jumps to 21-8-1-1

Forward Brandon Lisowsky scored his 32nd goal of the season into an empty net in the final minute of the game. The third-year Blade is now one shy of his previous career-high in goals.

What's Next?

The Blades roll north on Highway 11 for their last game at the Art Hauser Center this season against the Prince Albert Raiders.

Puck drop for Friday's contest is 7:00pm.

PAW Patrol Jersey Auction

The Saskatoon Blades vs the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Sask Tel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, March 04, 2023

Own a piece of Blades history from our historic season by taking home one of our game-worn PAW Patrol Jerseys!

They come with a winning touch, and all proceeds from the online auction will be donated to the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation!

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics




Images from this story

Saskatoon Blades' Ethan Chadwick and Tanner Molendyk
Saskatoon Blades' Ethan Chadwick and Tanner Molendyk
   



Western Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2023


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