GAME 48 PREVIEW | Blades, Wheat Kings battle for second place in East Divison
WHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME 48 | Saskatoon Blades (25-16-3-3) @ Brandon Wheat Kings (25-16-3-3)
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Tonight
Second place in the East Division is on the line as Saskatoon Blades (25-16-3-3) venture to Westoba Place for a battle against the Brandon Wheat Kings (25-16-3-3). Both sides are tied at 56 points with identical records, two back of the first-place Prince Albert Raiders. Tonight’s the fifth meeting of the season between the Blades and Wheat Kings. The season series is tied 2-2, with the Blades outscored 16-12.
Saskatoon won back-to-back contests last weekend on home ice. Four goals in the opening 40 minutes lifted the Blades to a 4-2 victory Friday, Jan. 31 against the Wenatchee Wild. A come-from-behind victory in the third period followed Sunday when Saskatoon defeated the defending WHL Champion Moose Jaw Warriors 3-2.
Who to Watch
Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing scored his 14th goal of the season Sunday against the Warriors. The 6-foot-6 forward’s game-winning goal is his third of the season and gave him four goals in his last five games. Laing was acquired by the Blades from the Prince George Cougars on January 8, scoring four goals and three assists in nine games with the Blue and Gold. In 45 games this season, the WHL sophomore has 29 points.
Alternate captain Tyler Parr recorded an assist in Sunday’s win against Moose Jaw to extend his point streak to four games. The La Salle, MB native has two goals and five assists in that span. Parr leads the team in points with 47 (18G, 29A) in 45 games, all career highs.
Blades goalies Evan Gardner and Ethan McCallum both secured a win last weekend. A Brandon, MB native, McCallum stopped 30 of 32 shots against the Wild. The 6-foot-4 netminder is 4-5-0-2 on the year with a .890 save percentage (SV%) and 3.31 goals against average (GAA). Gardner improved to 18-12-3-1 in his sophomore season after 19 saves against Moose Jaw. The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick has a .906 SV%, 3.03 GAA, and one shutout.
