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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Record Crowd Electrifies SaskTel Centre, Blades Fall Short to Pats

March 19, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


Record Saskatoon Blades' Crowd at SaskTel Centre
Record Saskatoon Blades' Crowd at SaskTel Centre
(Saskatoon Blades)

Saskatoon, SK - It wasn't the result many hoped, but the atmosphere was can't beat.

The Saskatoon Blades fell 4-2 at SaskTel Centre to Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats Sunday.

A sold out crowd of 14,768 Bridge City faithful filled the building for the largest crowd in Blades history. Forward Brandon Lisowsky sent them into a frenzy twice with a pair of goals, but his effort ultimately came up short.

The Blades will get a chance at redemption in a rematch Friday at SaskTel Centre for what should be another sellout crowd for the Blades final home game of the season.

The first period allowed not only the fans but both teams to settle in as they headed into intermission scoreless.

Regina kept the fans in their seats early in the second when Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Suzdalev buried his 38th goal of the season. The tally came under five-minutes into the middle frame to put the visitors on the board first.

Just over five-minutes before second intermission the Pats extended their lead to 2-0 after forward Tanner Howe made good on a breakaway attempt past Blades rookie netminder Austin Elliott. The Prince Albert, SK. product is up to 34 goals and 82 points on the year while Elliott's record falls to 24-6-3-0.

It wasn't from a lack of trying that Saskatoon found themselves down 2-0 after 40-minutes. The club outshot the visitors 44-22 by game's end, but Pats backstop Kelton Pyne stood on his head for a 42-save performance.

After hitting three posts within a 30-second span during the third, the Blades were headed to the man-advantage. The crowd after the goal is something you can't explain, you just had to be there.

Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Lisowsky bombed one into the back of the Pats' for goal 34, a new career-high. The Port Coquitlam, BC. product let off his signature "Liso Laser" past Pyne to bring the Blades within one with over half a period remaining.

The Pats responded with two quick goals within five-minutes of one another. First was forward Brayden Barnett for his third of the campaign, followed up by a classic Bedard snipe to make it 4-1. Bedard's 70th goal and assist gives him 141 points in 55 games and sealed the game with just over five-minutes remaining.

Lisowsky did breathe some life into the crowd and his squad 18:01 through the frame with his second of the night to bring the Blades within two again. The Blades pulled their netminder but couldn't find another pair to even it up.

What's Next?

The Blades and Pats duke it out again Friday for the Blue and Gold's final home game of the regular season.

It's fan appreciation night, and we're pumped to celebrate all of you for the fantastic support you've shown all season.

Puck drop is 7:00pm.

Check out the Saskatoon Blades Statistics




Images from this story

Record Saskatoon Blades' Crowd at SaskTel Centre
Record Saskatoon Blades' Crowd at SaskTel Centre
   



Western Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2023


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