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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Maier's Impressive Play Not Enough as Blades Fall to Edmonton

January 2, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


SASKATOON, SK - The Saskatoon Blades will have to wait a little longer for their first win of 2022.

Jalen Luypen earned the game's first star with a goal and an assist, helping the Edmonton Oil Kings defeat the Blades 4-1 on a cold Saturday night at SaskTel Centre.

Belarusian import Egor Sidorov was the lone goal scorer for Saskatoon, netting his first point in the blue and gold since November 28. Blades netminder Nolan Maier earned the game's second star, stopping 36 of 40 shots as Saskatoon falls 17-14-1-1 on the campaign.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa stopped 15 of 16 as the Edmonton Oil Kings improve to 24-8-2-1 on the year.

Saskatoon will try for their first win of the new year next Friday, taking on the Regina Pats at SaskTel Centre.

After Simon Kubicek got Edmonton on the board early, Sidorov buried his eighth of the season on the powerplay. In his first game back since earning a gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Division 1A Championships, the Belarusian forward one-timed a pretty feed from Kyle Crnkovic.

Caught on a 5-on-3 penalty kill late in the frame, Saskatoon couldn't hold the high-powered Oil Kings off the scoresheet, despite several quality stops from Maier. Luke Prokop took a feed from Dylan Guenther and fired a shot blocker-side on the Blades netminder to regain Edmonton's lead.

Just over two minutes in, hard-nosed forward Jayden Wiens was given a five-minute major for boarding, plus a game misconduct. It came after the centreman tore down the ice to beat an icing call, and bumped Edmonton's Carson Golder into the boards.

Without one of their top penalty killers for the rest of the game, Edmonton strengthened their lead. Jalen Luypen fired home his 15th of the season on the ensuing five-minute powerplay, giving the Oil Kings a two-goal lead.

Nearing the tail-end of the second, tempers boiled over behind the Oil Kings net. Rhett Rhinehart, Vaughn Watterodt, and Brandon Lisowsky each got tangled up with members of the Oil Kings, resulting in a barrage of punches, take-downs, and wrestling matches.

Rhinehart and Jaxsen Wiebe were handed 10-minute misconducts and early trips to the dressing room after the scrum.

Both teams combined for 55 penalty minutes through 40 minutes of play. Edmonton added one more in the third period, on route to a 4-1 victory. It's Edmonton's second straight win, which comes in their fourth straight road game.

Saskatoon finishes their first week of play since the Christmas break with a 2-1-0-1 record, with both victories coming against Prince Albert. They'll look to return to the win column next weekend, battling the Regina Pats in a home-and-home series which begins at home on Friday.

NOTE: Saskatoon was without San Jose Sharks prospect Tristen Robins, who was a late addition to the injury wire with a lower-body injury. He's hopeful to return next weekend against Regina. 2021 WHL Prospects Draft selection Zach Moore made his WHL debut in this game, wearing number 34.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2022


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