WHL Saskatoon Blades

Hurricanes Take the Points in Saturday Night Squabble

Published on February 2, 2020 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Saskatoon, SK - A tough second period ultimately led the Blades' 4-3 demise to the Eastern Conference's third placed team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, on Saturday night in Saskatoon.

Kyle Crnkovic extended his point streak to four games with first and second period goals while Martin Fasko-Rudas extended his point streak to three games on a first period assist.

The Blades begun the game strong with Crnkovic hitting iron just a few minutes in. Saskatoon would strike first as Chase Wouters made a nice play in the neutral zone to feed Fasko-Rudas, who then took the puck in - paused - and found Crnkovic backdoor to put the Blades up one-nothing. The Blades Bunch would run into some penalty trouble, killing the first two they faced but allowing a goal on the 'Canes third man-advantage attempt to end the first period in a 1-1 tie.

Saskatoon's slow start in the second period cost them as as Lethbridge took the lead just 18 seconds into the frame. The Hurricanes added to their lead shorthanded and then went up by three with another goal to round out a fairly dominant period.

The Blades would cut the visitors' lead in half with just under a minute to play as Crnkovic out-skated a Lethbridge defender and their goalie to the puck that deflected to the corner. Picking it up on the goal-line deep on the left wing, Crnkovic threw the puck at the net, bouncing it off a defender and into the back of the net to end the period with the Blades' trailing 4-2.

Saskatoon had a good start to the third period as the birthday boy Zach Huber found Colton Dach on a two on one, with Dach slinging in a perfect shot from the left wing to cut the lead to 4-3.

The home sides' best chance to tie the game back up was with just under 7 minutes to go on a power play where Riley McKay was sprung on a breakaway but denied by Carl Tetachuk. The score remained 4-3 in Lethbridge's favour the rest of the way as the 'Canes took the two points.

The Blades' will have three days to rest & practice before Regina visit Toon Town for the first time in the 2019-20 season on Winning Wednesday, January 5th.

Winning Wednesday means if Saskatoon wins, everyone in attendance gets a free ticket to the Blades' next home game!

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2020


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