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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Stage Heroic Comeback, Beat Broncos in OT

March 25, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


REGINA, SK - The Saskatoon Blades found a way to make history on Wednesday night.

Tristen Robins scored twice, including a scintillating overtime winner, as the East Division leaders pulled out an unlikely comeback to beat the Swift Current Broncos 6-5 at the Brandt Centre.

The win pushes Saskatoon's record to an impressive 6-0-1-0 - matching the team's best seven-game start in history. The last time the Blades collected 13 of a possible 14 points to start was 1985.

Robins, named the game's first star, was one of six Blades with multi-point performances. Kyle Crnkovic led the scoring charge with four assists, including setting up Robins' game-winner, and earned the game's third star. Swift Current forward Josh Davies notched a pair of goals to take second-star honours.

Captain Chase Wouters, along with alternate captains Caiden Daley and Aidan De La Gorgendiere all had a goal and an assist, while rookie Brandon Lisowsky picked up two helpers.

Saskatoon trailed the Broncos 5-3 with under four minutes to play in regulation. The dramatic comeback began with Blake Stevenson cutting the lead to one at 16:31, lifting a tough-angle shot over the shoulder of Ian Poulter.

With goaltender Nolan Maier pulled in the final minute of play, De La Gorgendiere found a hole through a mess of bodies, hitting the twine for his second of the season and sending it to overtime.

That's when Robins penned an exclamation point on the scoresheet.

Less than 30 seconds into OT, Crnkovic caught Robins with a long lead pass through the neutral zone. After chipping the puck past Broncos defender Mathew Ward, Robins shook off a hook and put a fast left-right deke on Ian Poulter, sliding the puck over the goal line, and putting the bow on a tremendous victory for the blue and gold.

Robins led the Blades in game-winners last season and is already up to two this campaign.

Offense came early and often in the first period from both teams. It took captain Chase Wouters just 14 seconds to light the lamp - winning the opening faceoff and finishing a cross-crease setup from alternate captain Caiden Daley.

Broncos defender Owen Williams found the back of the net less than a minute later, tying the game at 1-1.

Saskatoon was quick to answer and regain their lead, with Daley notching his third goal of the campaign and second point of the night at 6:11.

Back the other way, Swift Current made the most of two more quality chances. First, Michael Farren produced his fourth of the season, squaring up the contest at two goals each. With less than five minutes to go in the first, Josh Davies, on his 17th birthday, took advantage of a bobbled puck by the Blades defense and scored on a breakaway.

Saskatoon trailed 3-2 after 20 minutes of play despite an overwhelming 17-5 shot advantage.

Both teams tacked on powerplay markers in the second period, with Robins snapping his fourth of the season home at 4:57, and Davies collecting his second of the game approaching the midway mark. Davies powerplay marker ended a streak of 22 straight successful penalty kills for the Blades.

Robins, a prospect of the San Jose Sharks, extended his point streak to a team-leading four games with the marker. The Clear Lake, MB native leads the Blades in powerplay goals with two.

Saskatoon maintained a sizable advantage in shots through 40 minutes of play, throwing 29 on goal compared to 14 against.

Josh Filmon netted his first career WHL goal midway through the final period, giving Swift Current a two-goal lead. But Saskatoon found a way to claw back in the dying minutes and continue their scorching start to the season.

Nolan Maier improved his personal record to 5-0-0-0 - the second-most wins of any goaltender in the WHL - making 15 stops. Ian Poulter faced 41 shots in total, making 35 saves in defeat.

For the complete box score, CLICK HERE.

The Blades will try for a seventh win in eight games on Friday afternoon, batting the Regina Pats at 4:00pm.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2021


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