WHL Saskatoon Blades

Maier's 42-Save Night Leads Blades Past Wheat Kings

Published on April 12, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


REGINA, SK - The Saskatoon Blades are alone at the top once again.

Nolan Maier made 42-saves to earn his ninth victory of the season, and Kyle Crnkovic picked up a goal and an assist to lead the Blades to a 3-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Sunday night.

Maier earned the game's first star with his all-worldly performance, which included a combined 34 saves in the first two periods alone.

Rookie Brandon Lisowsky and captain Chase Wouters also netted goals for the Blades, who improve to 12-2-2-0 and two points clear of the Wheat Kings (11-3-2-0) for top spot in the East Division.

Alternate captain Tristen Robins extended his point streak to five games with an assist, while Rhett Rhinehart, Blake Stevenson, and Wyatt McLeod also collected helpers. Since snapping a three-game winless streak, the Blades are 3-0-0-0.

Saskatoon opened the scoring late in the opening period. Pressing on their second powerplay of the game, Kyle Crnkovic fed a hard pass towards the goal which glanced off Chase Wouters' foot and caught the low-right corner of the net. It was the captain's sixth of the season and first since March 29th.

Crnkovic picked up his second point of the night at 4:50 into the second period. The speedy winger took advantage of some open ice near the top of the circle on the powerplay, and snapped a hard shot over the glove of Kruger to give the Blades a 2-0 lead.

A few minutes later, the Wheaties cut the deficit in half off of Ben McCartney's eighth of the year. After a mad scramble in the crease of Maier, McCartney poked his stick blindly towards the goal and ended up pushing the puck underneath the Blades goaltender.

Saskatoon's penalty kill units were put to work four times in the second period alone, with Nolan Maier forced to make numerous stops. This includes a quick wrap-around attempt from McCartney with Maier sprawled on the opposite side of the net, yet somehow able to get his left pad across to the other post in the nick of time.

The Blades entered the 2nd intermission holding a 2-1 lead, but Maier was certainly the busiest of the bunch stopping 34 of 35 shots.

Brandon pressed for the tying goal throughout the entire third period, but ran into a brick wall named Nolan Maier.

The all-time leader in victories as a Blade was undeniably the hardest worker on the ice, weathering whatever the high-scoring Wheaties threw his way.

Not to go unnoticed was Saskatoon's ability to keep Brandon around the perimeter of the attacking zone, and kill time throughout the final five minutes of play.

The Blades got some breathing room from rookie Brandon Lisowsky with 3:16 to play. Rhett Rhinehart threw a shot toward the goal which was swiftly deflected off Stevenson's foot towards Lisowsky in front. The 16-year-old wasted no time tapping home the eventual game-winner.

Saskatoon's special team's play was also impressive, killing five of six penalties and capitalizing on two of five powerplay opportunities.

Brandon would get within one with seven seconds left in the game as Ridly Greig caught Maier on a rare occasion out of position, but Saskatoon had no problem running down the remaining time to earn their 12th victory of the season.

The Blades will now enjoy two days of rest before returning to the Subway WHL Hub on Wednesday, battling the Swift Current Broncos at 4:00pm.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2021


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