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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Win a Nail Biter over Canes

November 27, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


The Saskatoon Blades claimed victory in the fifth round of a shootout for a 4-3 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 on Friday night at Credit Union Centre.

Jeremy Boyer (Saskatoon, SK) and Walker Wintoneak (Flin Flon, MB) scored for the Blades in regulation, who remain nine points up on the second place Brandon Wheat Kings in the East Division.

Saskatoon product Carter Ashton opened the scoring 8:40 into the first period while the Hurricanes were on a 5-on-3 power play. Steven Stanford (Calgary, AB) made the original save on a Luca Sbisa point shot, but Ashton was on the doorstep to deposit the rebound.

The Hurricanes went up 2-0 six minutes into the second frame while shorthanded. Craig Orfino was stopped on his original shot but made no mistake on the rebound for his 5th of the year.

Boyer picked up his 5th of the year at the 7:24 mark of the second period to pull the Blades within one. Jyri Niemi (Hameenkyro, Finland) rushed the puck into the zone and had it knocked off his stick just inside the blue line. Josh Nicholls (Tsawwassen, BC) grabbed the loose puck and managed to slide it over to Boyer, who put home the power play goal.

The Blades tied it up with less than 13 minutes remaining in the third period while with the man advantage. Stefan Elliott's (North Vancouver, BC) point shot missed the net but Wintoneak took the puck off the bank and put it high past Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Anderson.

The teams remained tied through regulation and the overtime period setting up the shootout session.

- Burke Gallimore (Edmonton, AB) went first for the Blades and missed blocker side.

- Mitch Maxwell was unsuccessful on a deke trying to beat Stanford's right pad.

- Boyer tried getting one past Anderson's right pad and was stopped.

- Cam Braes put the Hurricanes on the board first in the shootout, beating Stanford with a backhand-to-forehand move.

- Charles Inglis (Saskatoon, SK) evened things up with a nifty move of his own to the backhand.

- Sbisa went next for Lethbridge and was stoned by Stanford's right pad.

- Niemi followed for the Blades and was denied by Anderson's glove hand.

- Ashton elected to try for a deke and missed on the blocker side.

- Derek Hulak (Saskatoon, SK) put the Blades ahead with a snap shot high blocker side.

- Carter Bancks made an attempt to get one past Stanford's right pad and was stopped, securing the victory for the Blades.

Final score Saskatoon 3, Lethbridge 2 (SO).

Stanford made 23 saves for his 10th straight victory to start out his Blades' career since being acquired by the team in October. Anderson turned aside 32 shots in the Lethbridge net in defeat.

The Blades now go to a record of 20-3-0-3 for 43 points on the season. The win is the fifth in a row and gives the Blades points in 13 consecutive games. The Hurricanes fall to 8-14-3-1 for 20 points and are 8 points out of a playoff spot.

The Blades continue a busy weekend with a matchup tomorrow night against the Calgary Hitmen at Credit Union Centre. Game time is 7:05 pm. Tickets are available online at ticketmaster.ca, by calling 938-7800, or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet.

Foxy's Lounge and Eatery Hidden Question: To win lunch for 2 at Foxy's Lounge and Eatery, please find the answer to the following question (the answer can be found somewhere on the Blades website) and send your answer to michaels@saskatoonblades.com: How many feet in length are the new LED video boards at Credit Union Centre? (News story put up this week)

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2009


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