WHL Saskatoon Blades

Preview: Streaking Blades Look to Seize Playoff Berth

Published on February 22, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Date | Time Friday, Feb. 22nd | 7:30 pm CST

Place Westoba Place, Brandon, MB

Video Stream WHL Live

Radio 98 COOL FM | Pre-Game Show w/ Les Lazaruk @ 6:30pm

Mobile App Apple | Android

Live Stats Click Here

Next Home Game 7:00pm Saturday, February 23rd vs Kootenay

Social Media @BladesHockey | Facebook | Instagram

Watch Party Shoeless Joes Sports Grill

Tale of the Tape

Saskatoon Blades (37-13-8-0 - 82pts) 2nd - East Division 2nd - Eastern Conference PP- 56/251 = 22.3% (11th in WHL) PK- 155/196 = 79.1% (9th in WHL) Last 5: (5-0-0-0) Streak: (11-0-2-0)

Brandon Wheat Kings (28-22-3-4 - 63pts) 4th - East Division 9th - Eastern Conference PP- 52/226 = 23.0% (6th in WHL) PK- 153/214 = 71.5% (21st in WHL) Last 5: (5-0-0-0) Streak: (5-0-0-0)

Win and you're in...

The Blades "magic number" to clinch playoff spot is 3 points. Any combination of the Blades gaining points or the Wheat Kings losing potential potential points count towards that number of 3. If the Blades lose in regulation, the number remains at 3, lose in extra time and the number goes down to 2, and any form of a win will clinch.

Tonight...

The two longest active win streaks in the WHL go head-to-head as the Blades- who have won 7 straight- visit the Brandon Wheat Kings, winners of their last 5, to close out a 6-game season series. The Blades, who are a perfect 6-0-0-0 on the road in the month of February, can clinch a playoff spot with a win; ending a 5-season drought. Meanwhile the Wheat Kings enter tonight's game tied in points with the Red Deer Rebels for the final wild-card spot in the East.

The last game...

Kirby Dach (22) and Emil Malysjev (3) each had a goal and an assist last Saturday in Lethbridge in a 5-2 victory over the Hurricanes. Gary Haden (27), Nolan Kneen (6) and Riley McKay (12) also scored for Saskatoon... Nolan Maier made 23 saves for his 30th win of the season in goal.

Head to head...

This is the season series finale and Saskatoon leads 4-0-1-0... Max Gerlach leads the way offensively for Saskatoon with 5G-4A in the series, as does Brandon captain Stelio Mattheos (5G-4A). Saskatoon's power play is 5/20 (25%) in the series, Brandon's is 7/21 (33.3%).

Who's hot... Max Gerlach is riding a 14 game point streak that includes 12G-12A, Kirby Dach has 4G-4A spread over 4 of his last 5 games, Ryan Hughes has points in 3 straight games (3G-2A).

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2019


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