Sports stats



WHL Saskatoon Blades

Offensive Explosion Keeps Blades Alive in Series vs Rebels

April 22, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Saskatoon Blades celebrate win
Saskatoon Blades celebrate win
(Saskatoon Blades)

Saskatoon, SK - We've got a series!

Forward Egor Sidorov and defenceman Tanner Molendyk each recorded a pair of goals in the Blades Game 5, 6-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels at SaskTel Centre.

It was a gutsy win for the Blue and Gold who had their backs up against the wall coming into Friday's contest and came through 3/6 on the powerplay for nearly 6,000 Blade City faithful in attendance.

The pressure is now on the Rebels who were up 3-0 in this series, but the Blades have showed no quit forcing a Game 6 Sunday afternoon in Red Deer.

The start that's alluded Saskatoon all series long came to fruition as NHL draft-eligible defenceman Molendyk scored 5:39 into the game. The 5-foot-11 blueliner's second of the postseason was near identical to his goal in Game 4, coming in on the blocker side of Rebels goalie Kyle Kelsey and beating him glove side.

WHL Player of the Year nominee Kai Uchacz tied the game about six-minutes later for his seventh of the playoffs. The skilled forward struck again later on in the first.

NHL draft-eligible sniper Sidorov regained Saskatoon's lead 51-seconds later on the powerplay. The Vitebsk, Belarus product went scoreless in his past six games but bombed a one-timer for his sixth of the postseason. The puck may have deflected off forward Jayden Wiens in front, but what was for sure is the Blades were up 2-1.

Uchacz tied the game for a second time with 3:02 left in the first period. The 19-year-old from De Winton, AB. leads his club with eight goals and is up 11 points in ten games this postseason.

Sidorov earned a pair for himself as well in the opening 20 with his second powerplay marker of the contest. The 6-foot machine registered an assist on Molendyk's opening tally giving him three points in the frame, and Saskatoon a 3-2 lead headed to the dressing room. Kelsey's night was cut short as backup Chase Coward came in relief after Sidorov's tally.

Rookie forward Ollie Josephson evened the game a third time for the Rebels 1:28 into the middle frame. The left-handed shot has two goals and three points in ten postseason appearances.

Saskatoon regained their one-goal lead with 25-seconds left in the period thanks to captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere's second goal of the playoffs. The Langley, BC. product has goals in back-to-back games and 13 points in 12 contests. The Blue and Gold were in control after 40-minutes with their season on the line for a nail-biting third period.

An insurance goal courtesy of Carrot River, SK's own Wiens gave some relief fort the Bridge City Bunch just over five-minutes into the third. The 5-foot-9 center was credited with the goal but it could've very well been finished off by Edmonton Oilers prospect Jake Chiasson who was right on the door step to make sure it crossed the goal line. If the goal stands for Wiens he will have six goals and seven points in the playoffs.

News of a baseball club coming to Saskatoon got Molendyk fired up as he swatted his second of the game past Coward to make it 6-3. The goal went under review for the stick being above the crossbar but was deemed a good goal.

What's Next?

The Blades' fight to stay alive continues in Game 6 Sunday at the Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer.

Puck drop is 2:00pm CST.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics




Images from this story

Saskatoon Blades celebrate win
Saskatoon Blades celebrate win
   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 22, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central