GAME 51 PREVIEW | Blades have date with Hitmen at SaskTel Centre
WHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME 51 | Saskatoon Blades (27-17-3-3) vs Calgary Hitmen (33-13-3-2)
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Tonight
The Saskatoon Blades (27-17-3-3) won’t spend Valentine’s Day alone as they have a date with the Calgary Hitmen (33-13-3-2) at SaskTel Centre. The Bridge City Bunch hope to hand the Hitmen a loss rather than flowers as the Eastern Conference playoff race heats up. Saskatoon is tied for first place in the East Division alongside the Prince Albert Raiders with 60 points. With 18 regular season games remaining for the Blades, every point matters as they sit sixth in the entire Eastern Conference.
The Blades are 4-1 in their last five games but dropped their latest contest on Tuesday at home 5-3 against the conference’s top Medicine Hat Tigers. Tonight’s the fourth and final meeting between the Blades and Hitmen, Saskatoon currently 1-1-1-0 in the season series.
Who to Watch
20-year-old forward Tanner Scott has two goals and two assists on his three-game point streak. The Sherwood Park, AB product recorded an assist in Tuesday’s loss to the Tigers. Scott has four goals and eight helpers in 15 games since being acquired by the Blue and Gold on January 2. In 40 games total, the pending WHL graduate has ten goals and 18 assists.
Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing scored his 15th goal of the season in Tuesday’s defeat to Medicine Hat. The 6-foot-6 winger has three goals and one assist in his last four games. Since being acquired by the Blades on January 8 from the Prince George Cougars, Laing has scored five goals and four assists. The Kelowna, BC native has 31 points in 48 games in his sophomore season.
6-foot-4 netminder Ethan McCallum has won four of his last six starts. The 18-year-old goalie has posted a .918 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average across that span. McCallum stopped 38 of 43 shots Tuesday against his former team, setting his record at 6-6-0-2 on the season.
Our game day 50/50 is live! You can skip the line at the game and purchase your ticket online from anywhere in Saskatchewan. Give yourself a chance to walk home with some serious cash!
