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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Win See-Saw Affair with Canes

February 27, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


The Saskatoon Blades are closing in on the 40-win mark of the season thanks to a wild 6-4 victory on Tuesday night over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Blades are now 39-14-8-0 on the season, ten points ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors in the East Division.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hurricanes lived up to their name and stormed into the Blades zone controlling the game early on. This caused the Blades to take a penalty and Nick Henry (24) took advantage of a fortuitous bounce to put Lethbridge up 1-0 just 2:20 into the contest.

Saskatoon woke up and responded 1:11 later as Kyle Crnkovic (10) pounced on an Eric Florchuk rebound. The 1-1 tie carried over into the second period with Lethbridge leading 15-10 on the shot clock at the intermission.

Kirby Dach set up Gary Haden (29) on a power play 1:14 into the middle frame and Uncle Gary inched closer to the 30-goal milestone scoring his 2nd goal in as many games. The Blades power play was at it again later in the period as captain Chase Wouters (15) shovelled the puck under Carl Tetachuk to give Saskatoon a 3-1 edge after 40 minutes. Gary Haden and Kirby Dach assisted on Wouters' 15th of the season.

However, Lethbridge proved they weren't going away without a fight as they scored the next two goals in the third period. First Jake Elmer (32) beat Nolan Maier after a spin & fire from the slot. Then Logan Barlage (14) jumped on a loose puck to the game at 3-3 with 8:36 left on the clock.

Again the Blades were quick to answer back. This time Riley McKay set up Ryan Hughes (25) who unloaded a cannon past Tetachuk 19 seconds after the tying goal to put the Blades back out in front. Less than two minutes later the line of Ryan Hughes, Riley McKay, and Kirby Dach were at it again. Riley McKay dished off to Kirby Dach on a 2-on-1 and Dach tucked in his 23rd of the season to make it 5-3 for the blue & gold.

Taylor Ross (31) got the Hurricanes back within one, but it wasn't enough. Ryan Hughes iced the cake with an empty net goal from his own end to complete the 6-4 victory.

AROUND THE NET

Nolan Maier stopped 35/39 shots in the game en route to his 31st win of the season. Maier has won six of his last severn starts. Carl Tetachuk went 23/28 at the other end for Lethbridge.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Saskatoon was an impressive 2/3 on the man advantage and also went 2/3 on the penalty kill. The Blades power play now moves into 6th overall in the WHL this season with a 23% success rate. The Blades' penalty kill remains 7th best in the league at 79.6%.

TOP PERFORMERS

Kirby Dach: 1 goal, 4 assists, 1st star

Ryan Hughes: 2 goals, 2 assists, 2nd star

Riley McKay: 2 assists, +1, 4 PIM

NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS

Ryan Hughes extended his point streak to 6 games (6G-5A).

Kirby Dach recorded his second 5 point game of the season.

Three Blades centres were over 50% in the face-off circle: Wouters 72% Florchuk 58% Robins 80%

UNSUNG HERO

Nolan Kneen had 2 assists and was the only Blade with a +3 rating.

UP NEXT

The Blades prepare for a pair of weekend home games beginning on Friday night against the Regina Pats and Sunday afternoon against the Red Deer Rebels.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2019


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