GAME 65 RECAP | Blades drop back-half of home-and-home vs Warriors
Moose Jaw, SK – A three-goal first period for the Saskatoon Blades faded quickly as the Moose Jaw Warriors stormed back to win 6-3 Saturday at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten opened the scoring under five minutes into the game for Saskatoon, while Easton Armstrong potted a pair to give the Blades a 3-0 lead at first intermission. Minten’s up to 21 goals and 45 points in 40 games, 35 (18G, 17A) of which have come in a Blue and Gold sweater. Armstrong extended his point streak to four games with goals 31 and 32 on the campaign. The Denver, CO product’s four goals and five points throughout his point streak contributes to his 52 points in 59 games this season.
The loss ended Saskatoon’s five-game win streak, but they remain first in the WHL with a 47-13-2-3 record. The Blades still need five points (either won by the Blades or lost by the Portland Winterhawks) to win the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best team in the regular season.
The Blades took off early as Minten scored 4:41 into the opening frame to make it 1-0. The Vancouver, BC’s 21st of the year ended a three-game goalless drought and gives him three points (1G, 2A) in his last two games.
A friendly bounce in the Friendly City and Fraser Minten capitalizes 🚨@MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/ABEaRstpX4
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 17, 2024
Armstrong scored in his second straight game just over halfway through the first with his 11th powerplay goal of the season. The 6-foot-3 winger is tied for second on the team in powerplay goals alongside Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Brandon Lisowsky
Easton Armstrong deflects Molendyk's point shot for the power play goal 💪 pic.twitter.com/FIAB2NJOpi
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 17, 2024
The 21-year-old forward kept the pressure up with his second of the night less than four minutes later. Armstrong’s second goal marked the end of goalie Jackson Unger’s night for Moose Jaw. Rookie netminder Dimitri Fortin took control of the crease and went on to stop all 24 shots against.
Strong-arm an o-zone turnover and Armstrong scores his second 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/rJW474Uey1
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 17, 2024
The Warriors responded quickly in the second as Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Brayden Yager potted his 33rd of the season 3:21 in. The WHL’s leading scorer Jagger Firkus earned the secondary assist on the goal, the start of what turned into a four-point performance.
Firkus brought Moose Jaw within one just over halfway through the contest with his team-leading 51st goal of the campaign.
The hosts steadied the ship as Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie tied the game 3-3 with 1:14 left in the period. The 2004-born forward has 29 goals and 61 points in 32 games. Turbulence continued for the Blades as forward Brayden Schuurman gave Moose Jaw the lead 25 seconds later.
Trailing 4-3 with 20 minutes left to go, the Blades continued to free fall as Firkus scored his 53rd goal of the season on the man-advantage 8:20 into the third. The Seattle Kraken prospect completed the hat-trick with an empty-net goal with 1:33 remaining to solidify a 6-3 Warriors win.
What’s Next?
The Blades embark on their final week of the regular season starting Wednesday at SaskTel Centre with a game against the Calgary Hitmen. Capping the regular season off is a two-game home-and-home series with the Prince Albert Raiders, with the Blades on the road Friday at the Art Hauser Centre and at home Saturday.
Puck drop for all three games is 7:00pm.
