Haden Gives Oil Kings a Gary Christmas
December 12, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
Chalk up win number 20 for the Saskatoon Blades thanks to a 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Tuesday night at SaskTel Centre. It was the third straight win for the blue & gold who improve to 20-10-3-0 on the season with 43 points to hold down 2nd place in the Eastern Conference.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
It was a back and forth affair for most of the night as both teams were coming off Teddy Bear Toss victories on home ice. Edmonton struck first with a goal that deflected in off a Blade defenders skate. Chase Wouters (4) answered back exactly one minute later and then Seth Bafaro (4) gave the Blades their first lead shortly after with an unassisted tally that also went off an Oil Kings defender. Brett Kemp (20) tied it for Edmonton with a power play marker late in the frame to make it 2-2 after 20.
Gary Haden (9) deflected a Nolan Kneen point shot on a Blades power play to start the middle frame, Dawson Davidson added the second helper. Again, the see-saw battle continued and the Oil Kings answered less than a minute later through Matthew Robertson (5).
However, the final 20 minutes belong to Gary Haden and his line mates Josh Paterson and Chase Wouters. First, Haden (10) scored his second goal of the night after Paterson found him all alone in the slot. Less than four minutes later, Chase Wouters won a face-off and Haden (11) quickly snapped a shot past Todd Scott for his 1st career WHL hat-trick. 21 seconds after that, Josh Paterson made a perfect pass into the crease for Haden (12) to tap in his 4th goal of the night and 5th point.
TURNING POINT
Gary Haden's 2nd goal of the night in the 3rd period gave the Blades momentum and opened the flood gates for Saskatoon to pull away with the lead.
TOP PERFORMERS
Gary Haden 4 goals, 1 assist, +3, 7 SOG, and 4/5 in the face-off circle.
Chase Wouters had a goal, an assist, was +4 with 2 SOG and 2 PIM. He also went 7/12 on draws.
Josh Paterson added 2 nice helpers making it easy for Haden to finish off. He was also +3.
NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS
In 20 games with the Blades this season, Gary Haden has half (21) as many point as he did in 70 games (42) last season in Medicine Hat.
Chase Wouters recorded his first multi-point game of the season with 1G-1A.
Nolan Kneen's assist tonight gives him 5 helpers in 8 games since joining the Blades.
Seth Bafaro scored his 4th goal of the season, his 1st on home ice.
UP NEXT
The Blades home stand continues on Friday when they play their final home game of before the holiday break against the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings. It's the first meeting of the season between the Blades and Wheaties. On Saturday the two teams will do it again in Brandon for the final game before the holiday break.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2018
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- Rebels Struggle on the Power Play But Post 20th Win of the Season - Red Deer Rebels
- Haden Gives Oil Kings a Gary Christmas - Saskatoon Blades
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