WHL Saskatoon Blades

Luck Runs out for the Comeback Kids

Published on October 18, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Saskatoon, Sask. - The Saskatoon Blades picked up a single point on Wednesday night in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Calgary Hitmen. The loss leaves the Blades with a 7-3-1-0 record on the season.

It was an encouraging start to the game for fans in attendance at SaskTel Centre as the home side got out to an early 2-0 lead. Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen didn't take long to get accustomed to his new line mates scoring his 4th goal of the season 3:24 into the game. Dawson Davidson and Max Gerlach had the helpers; the eighth straight game in which Davidson has registered a point. The veteran defender wasn't done there either as he quickly gave the Blades a 2-0 lead less than two minutes later. Kirby Dach picked up the lone assist on Davidson's 4th of the year.

Instead of keeping the pedal down, the Blades appeared a little too comfortable with their two goal lead. Meanwhile, the Hitmen were in full desperation mode looking for anything to give them a spark.

Blades forward Brady Nicholas collided with Calgary defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko at centre ice which sent him flying through the air and onto the ice in obvious discomfort. Devan Klassen retaliated going straight for Nicholas who saw him coming and managed to get his gloves off in time to defend himself. Nicholas took one swing and connected send Klassen to the ice. The officials conferred and deemed Nicholas' hit a kneeing major and ejected the Saskatoon rookie. Klassen was given an instigator on the play, meaning the Hitmen were awarded a 3 minute man advantage after 2 minutes of 4-on-4 hockey. They failed to score but their bench seemed to have a little more jump after the brouhaha.

Then in the final minute of the opening frame, Hitmen forward and Saskatoon native Kaden Elder snuck a shot through Dorrin Luding to cut the Blades lead in half. Calgary trailed on the scoreboard at the first break but held an 18-11 lead in shots.

The Hitmen then stunned the Blades scoring twice in less than a minute to take a 3-2 lead 5:36 into the second period.

Another coaches pet peeve after giving up a goal in the final of the first period, the Hitmen increased their lead to 4-2 in the first minute of the third period. And they weren't backing down from any challenges at this point as Zach Huber dropped the gloves with Riley McKay who was trying to inject some life into the Blades bench.

The Blades did manage to claw back like they have in recent extra time wins over Medicine Hat and Red Deer. Josh Paterson tipped in a point shot from Dawson Davidson on a power play to get Saskatoon within one. Then Brandon Schuldhaus tied the game with 1:31 left in the 3rd period with his first goal in a Blades uniform. Kirby Dach had an assist on the goal, his second of the night extending his point streak to 12 points in his last 7 games.

But the Blades didn't have enough to finish the job in overtime as Josh Prokop scored his second of the game for the visitors to win at the 2:31 mark of the extra frame.

Both netminders were busy as Dorrin Luding stopped 36/41 shots; Carl Stankowski went 36/40 at the other end.

A positive for the Blades was the performance of the special teams. The power play struck twice on five opportunities -- the second straight game the power play has scored two goals-- and the penalty killers were a perfect 3/3.

The Blades will continue their home stand on Friday night as they welcome Riley McKay's former club, the Spokane Chiefs.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2018


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