WHL Saskatoon Blades

Late Charge Comes up Short in 4-1 Loss to ICE

Published on April 23, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


REGINA, SK - A late goal from Alex Morozoff wasn't enough as the Saskatoon Blades lost to the Winnipeg ICE 4-1 on Friday afternoon.

It's the fourth consecutive loss for the Blades, which comes on the heels of a five-game winning streak. They'll try to turn the tides and rekindle their scoring touch on Monday, battling the Moose Jaw Warriors in their second last game of the season.

The ICE (16-5-1-0) received a pair of goals from Owen Pederson, along with single markers from Mike Ladyman and Connor McClennon in the victory, which puts them within one point of the Brandon Wheat Kings for first in the East Division. Saskatoon falls out of a tie for second with Winnipeg and now sit alone in third.

Blades goaltender Koen MacInnes stopped 30 of 34 shots, and was a key piece to holding the ICE scoreless on four powerplay opportunities. Gage Alexander earned his sixth victory with 25 saves.

Saskatoon was without their leading goal-scorer, Tristen Robins, for a sixth straight game. The San Jose Sharks prospect has been nursing a lower-body injury which he sustained on April 11th vs. the Wheat Kings.

Winnipeg rushed out of the gate with two goals in the opening 20 minutes, including a milestone for the team's leading scorer.

Vegas Golden Knights prospect Peyton Krebs notched the secondary assist on Winnipeg's opening marker, scored by Owen Pederson at the 6:05 mark. The helper stretched Krebs' point streak to 21 games, tying the ICE franchise record set in 2000-01 by Mike Comrie.

Mike Ladyman picked up his second goal of the campaign at the 11:00 mark, extending the ICE's lead to 2-0.

Although the Blades didn't find the scoresheet in the opening 20 minutes, a timely penalty kill kept them in the game. Alternate captain Caiden Daley and defenceman Rhett Rhinehart took minor penalties 37 seconds part, awarding the ICE a two-man advantage for well over a minute. Captain Chase Wouters blocked several shots, and Koen MacInnes made a few key stops to keep the league's 2nd best powerplay unit at bay.

Winnipeg extended its lead to 3-0 with just over five minutes to play in the second, thanks to Connor McClennon's 14th of the season.

Pederson collected his second of the game midway through the third period, finishing a nice cross-crease pass from McClennon on a two-on-one.

With just over seven minutes to play, Morozoff ended Alexander's bid for the shutout, spinning and firing a low shot that fooled the ICE goaltender. It's the Saskatoon product's second of the season, which ends a 20-game scoring drought.

Saskatoon will enjoy a weekend away from the rink before reconvening at the Subway WHL Hub on Monday, when they close out their season series against the Moose Jaw Warriors at 6:00 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2021


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