GAME 62 RECAP | Storybook finish as Blades beat Oil Kings in overtime on Frank Banham Night
Saskatoon, SK – There couldn’t have had a better ending than what fans inside SaskTel Centre witnessed on Frank Banham’s Jersey Retirement Night.
Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Brandon Lisowsky brought the win home for the greatest Saskatoon Blade of all time Saturday in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The Blades honoured Banham with a jersey retirement ceremony prior to the game. The all-time leading scorer in franchise history made an emotional return to the Bridge City after nearly three decades away. Banham played for the Blades between 1992-96 and was joined by many family, friends, and former teammates for the celebration.
In front of the best goal scorer the organization has ever seen, Lisowsky called game with a penalty-shot goal in overtime to send the arena into a frenzy. The 19-year-old sniper was mauled by his teammates as he scored his 36th goal of the season, setting a new career-high in points with 71 in 62 games.
21-year-old forward Easton Armstrong collected his 29th goal of the campaign to give him 48 points in 56 games.
Rookie netminder Evan Gardner returned to the pipes with a 16-save performance, improving his record to 18-5-0-2.
The Blades need just one point to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference and remain first in the league with a 45-12-2-3 record.
A scoreless first two periods saw the Blades outshoot the Oil Kings 17-10.
Armstrong brought the crowd to life 6:22 into the third frame with his 29th goal of the year.
Picking corners like Frank Banham! pic.twitter.com/Yqwp1JaHmP
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 10, 2024
Oil Kings forward Gracyn Sawchyn tied the game with under two minutes to go to make it 1-1.
Lisowsky ripped home his 36th goal of the season to win the game in overtime.
OVERTIME. PENALTY SHOT. FRANK BANHAM NIGHT. LISOWSKY. CLUTCH.@MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/C186u38FnT
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 10, 2024
What’s Next?
The Blades begin the second half of their four-game homestand Tuesday against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Puck drop is 7:00pm.