"We Didn't Care How It Got Done."
December 13, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
SASKATOON, SK - It's probably the biggest relief the Blades have felt in a long time. Ending the long losing streak to the Regina Pats at 15 games. In addition to snapping the 15 game losing streak, the Blades also snapped their current losing streak and snapped their losing streak at home. All in all it was a good night for the Blades.
Eight minutes in the first, Regina would strike first as the Blades cant clear out of the zone which lead to Jared Freadrich's point shot tipped by Adam Brooks for his 15th putting the Pats up 1-0.
One thing Bob Woods knew after the Pats opened the scoring was to make sure the Blades didn't lose their cool and to keep their focus and sticking to their gameplan. "The minute you start changing things that's when stuff happens the wrong way. Eventually something was going to give and we got that goal early in the third," said Head Coach Bob Woods.
It was a fairly quiet game in all regards. But the difference between tonight's team against the Pats versus two weeks ago is night and day.
Wyatt Sloboshan had a shorthanded breakaway to get the game at even but couldn't find an answer to Tyler Brown who had 5 shutout periods against the Blades until the third period.
There were many 2 on 1 opportunities for the home team but either were stopped, or missed the net.
Rookie Lukus MacKenzie showed his physical side to get some momentum going with a huge hit on Nikolai Knyzhov.
Through most of this hockey game Saskatoon was the better team, generating many chances and outworking Regina. Something that they haven't been able to do against them so far this season.
"That's the effort we need in order to have success and hopefully the guys know what it's like tonight and what they had to do to get that done," added Woods on his teams effort against Regina.
21 seconds in the third the Blades finally beaten Tyler Crown as Cameron Hebig puts it in past Brown on the backhand ending his 5 period shutout against the blades.
A critical moment late in the third as Mason McCarty takes high sticking double minor with 3:28 left in the third.
Penalty Killing has been one of the strengths of the Blades and were able to do so and get a big momentum boost as they killed off the double minor heading in to extra time.
That momentum carried for the team as Wyatt Sloboshan with a glorious chance on the breakaway but is denied by Brown with a sprawling glove save.
At the other end, Brock Hamm stood tall not only in overtime but the entire game. Making key saves at key times after being pulled the night before against Kamloops. "Brock's been our rock. Phenomenal all year and he has definitely kept us in a lot of hockey games that we've won and it's nice to see him get rewarded with a win," said Connor Gay on the play of his goaile.
In the dying seconds of overtime, Hebig left all alone took a slapshot against Brown on the breakaway desperately to end the long losing streak.
For the first time this year, the Blades were headed to the shootout.
After five unsuccessful chances for both sides, it couldn't have been written any better in the sixth round.
Connor Gay the sixth shooter for the Blades gets the chance against his former team. Going back hander on his former teammate Tyler Brown and as skating to the bench, staring down his former teammates.
Hamm made the stop on Colton Kroeker to add the cherry on top of a fantastic game to end the 15 game drought against the Pats.
"I wanted it pretty bad. When I got out there I was pretty excited and not sure what I was going to do. I've played against Tyler (Brown) I know he's got a good glove and my move is my backhand usually, thought I'd give it a try and luckily it went in," said Gay describing the shootout winner.
For Gay, a win like this gave him both perspectives. Seeing how he was a force against the Blades last year with Regina. " Being on the other end is a pretty good feeling beating these guys but for them to come to our building and get the two points and beating this curse is a good feeling," added Gay on being on both ends of the spectrum.
The Blades will have a day off tomorrow and get ready for Wednesday night when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 7 p.m.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2015
- Oil Kings Can't Snap Skid with 5-4 Loss to Tigers - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Hitmen Win 5-2 over Rebels - Red Deer Rebels
- Royals Topped by Giants - Victoria Royals
- Porter Leads Hitmen to 5-2 Win over Rebels - Calgary Hitmen
- Giants Double Royals 4-2 - Vancouver Giants
- "We Didn't Care How It Got Done." - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Succumb to Saskatoon in Shootout - Regina Pats
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 13 at Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Bajkov Leads Silvertips over Seattle 4-1 - Everett Silvertips
- Blazers Win 5-2 in Prince Albert - Kamloops Blazers
- Rockets Fall to Brandon 5-1 - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Trump Giants - Victoria Royals
- Tigers Win on Teddy Bear Night - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game 31: December 13 vs. Edmonton - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Fans Send 6,384 Teddy Bears Flying on Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Wheat Kings Ground Rockets - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Silvertips Skate Past T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Americans Outlast Chiefs 4-3 - Tri-City Americans
- Royals Down Giants 6-1 - Vancouver Giants
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