GAME 14 RECAP | Blades unable to outgun Giants, fall 7-6 to begin BC trip
Langley, BC – Half a dozen goals wasn’t enough for the Saskatoon Blades as they lost 7-6 at the Langley Events Centre Friday against the Vancouver Giants.
It was a hard-fought effort for the Blue and Gold who outshot the Giants 48-26 and capitalized on 2/4 powerplay opportunities. Despite beginning their five-game BC road trip on a loss, Saskatoon remains atop the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 10-3-1-0 record.
The Blades found themselves leading, tied, and trailing at different points of the game. German import forward David Lewandowski put the Blades up 1-0 5:07 into the first period with his third goal of the year. The NHL draft-eligible winger finished the night with two goals, earning the 6-foot-2 forward second star on the evening. Local boy Grayden Siepmann tallied his first of two assists in the game on Lewandowski’s goal. Friday marked the 20-year-old blueliner’s first time in his WHL career playing in BC. The right-handed shot has five helpers in his last two games.
The Giants answered back with two goals in a 2:48 span. Montreal Canadiens draft pick Tyler Thorpe netted his seventh goal of the year, while NHL draft-eligible forward Cameron Schmidt potted his first of two goals in the frame.
2007-born forward Hudson Kibblewhite tied the game 2-2 for the Blades two minutes later with his third of the season. The Vernon, BC native has five points (3G, 2A) in 14 games throughout his sophomore season.
Schmidt scored his WHL-leading 14th goal of the season just under two minutes later to regain Vancouver’s one-goal lead. The Prince George, BC native has 14 goals and nine assists in 14 games.
Blades forward Rowan Calvert tied the game on the powerplay with 1:54 remaining in the opening frame. The 19-year-old winger leads the team in powerplay goals with six and has nine total to go with his six assists in 14 games this season. A crazy first period resulted in a 3-3 tie after 20 minutes with the Blades outshooting Vancouver 18-6.
20-year-old centre Tyson Zimmer put the Giants up 4-3 with a penalty-shot goal early ion the second. Blades goalie Evan Gardner got a piece of Zimmer’s shot, but the second-year Giant beat the Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick high on the glove side.
Saskatoon forward Tyler Parr picked up his fifth goal of the year with a powerplay tally just over two minutes later to tie the game. The alternate captain finished the game with a goal and an assist and has goals in three straight contests.
The Giants responded early in the third period with a goal from forward Connor Levis. The Winnipeg Jets draft pick has seven goals and six assists in 12 games with the Giants after he was traded to Vancouver last season from the Kamloops Blazers.
Lewandowski found the back of the net for a second time over halfway through the final frame to tie it 5-5. The rookie forward has four goals and six points in seven games.
Back-to-back goals from forward Jaden Lipinski and Adam Titlback gave the Giants a 7-5 lead.
20-year-old sniper Brandon Lisowsky gave the Blades hope after scoring with 19 seconds left on the clock, but that would mark the final goal of the evening. The Port Coquitlam, BC product is on a seven-game point streak with five goals and seven assists.
What’s Next?
The Blades hop on the ferry for a Sunday afternoon game against the Victoria Royals.
Puck drop is 5:00pm CT.
