Preview: Blades Facing Tall Task in Vancouver
November 27, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
Saskatoon Blades (15-8-2-0) at Vancouver Giants (16-6-2-0)
Date | Time Tuesday, Nov. 27th | 9:00 pm
Place Langley Events Centre, Langley, B.C.
Video Stream WHL Live
Radio 98 COOL FM | Pre-Game Show w/ Les Lazaruk @ 8:00pm
Mobile App Apple | Android
Next Home Game 7:00pm Friday, Dec. 9th vs Moose Jaw Warriors
Social Media @BladesHockey | Facebook | Instagram
Watch every Blades road game at Shoeless Joe's Sports Grill in Saskatoon. Tune in live on the radio at 98 COOL FM, or stream on WHL Live.
Tonight...
Rookie defenseman Aidan De La Gorgendiere returns to his hometown of Langley tonight as the Blades begin the tough part of the road trip schedule as they take on the BC Division leading Vancouver Giants to begin a 4-games in 5-night stretch. Both teams have similar records and special teams statistics and both are coming off 4-1 wins on Saturday. Home ice advantage likely won't be a factor as the Giants bring a 10-4-1-0 home record into the game compared to Saskatoon's 9-4-1-0 road record. Saskatoon will also see newly acquired defenseman Nolan Kneen make his Blades debut after being acquired yesterday from the Kamloops Blazers. Kneen had 20 points in 22 games this season with the Blazers.
The last game...
Max Gerlach (15), Seth Bafaro (3), Eric Florchuk (8), and Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen (7) scored in a 4-1 win in Prince George over the Cougars on Saturday night. Nolan Maier stopped 21/22 shots for his 13th win of the season. Vancouver edged their rivals, the Victoria Royals, on home ice on Saturday y a score of 4-1. Davis Koch and Milos Roman each had a goal and an assist while Trent Miner made 24 saves in goal for the Giants.
Head to Head...
Each team boasts one of the top prospects for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft: Kirby Dach (25GP-13G-26A) leads the Blades in scoring while fellow 17-year-old Bowen Byram (24GP-7G-11A) heads up the Giants d-core. Each team also has one of the top young goaltenders in the league; Saskatoon's Nolan Maier (.914SV%-2.68GAA) and Vancouver's Trent Miner (.944SV%-1.60GAA). The Giants do hold a slight advantage in special teams with a combined success rate of 107.4% compared to Saskatoon's 104%. Vancouver also has a +22 goal differential this season while the Blades are +12.
Who's hot...
Nolan Maier has won 5 of last 6 starts with a stat line: 946SV% - 1.68GAA - 5-1-0-0. Eric Florchuk has 5 points in his last 4 outings, Gary Haden has 6pts in his last 6 games including 2 assists on Saturday and Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen is on a 3-game point streak (1G-2A).
Next up...
The Blades continue their B.C. road trip on Wednesday in Victoria, Friday night in Kamloops, and Saturday night in Kelowna. Next home action for the Blades is on Friday, December 7th when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2018
- Blazers Host Valley First Food Drive & Teddy Bear Toss Night this Weekend - Kamloops Blazers
- Rockets Hope to Get Hot at Home - Kelowna Rockets
- Andrej Kukuca Invited to Team Slovakia Training Camp for World Junior Championship - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Raiders' Brett Leason named CHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Wheat Kings Embrace the Holiday Season - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Preview: Blades Facing Tall Task in Vancouver - Saskatoon Blades
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