GAME DAY PREVIEW: Blades searching for rebound in Ripcity

Date | Time	Sunday, Dec. 3rd | 7:00 p.m CST
Place	Moda Center , Portland, OR
Video Stream	WHL Live
Radio	92.9 The Bull FM | Pre-Game Show w/ Les Lazaruk & Tyler Wawryk @6:30pm
Mobile App	Apple | Android
Live Stats	Click Here
Next Home Game	Saturday, Dec. 9th vs Kamloops Blazers for Girls Rock Night
Social Media	@BladesHockey   | Facebook  | Instagram

Tonight – The Saskatoon Blades will try to do something few teams have been able to do this season… beat the Portland Winterhawks. The Blades are coming off a 3-0 loss last night in Everett and will look to snap a 2 game skid. Meanwhile, the Hawks are blazing hot coming in with an 11-0-0-1 recording their last 12 outings. For the Blades it’s stop number 4 on their US road trip while Portland returns to home ice for the first time since Nov. 18th.

The opponent – So, these guys are pretty good. Portland’s 20-4-0-1 record has them in 2nd place in the entire WHL but leading the way with the best win % at .820%. They just finished up a 2 week road trip through the Central Division where they went 5-0-0-1. They also have 6 NHL drafted skaters including 2017 1st rounders Cody Glass (VGK) and Henri Jokiharju (CHI).

For Saskatoon – The Blades have shown the ability to take on the league’s best after going 1-1-1 against the Moose Jaw Warriors, so they have to keep that in mind tonight. It won’t be easy, but the Blades must be aware of who is on the ice. Lastly, Saskatoon should try to skate 5-on-5 as much as possible as the Hawks bring in the 2nd best power play and penalty kill units in the WHL.

The lineup – Seldom do you go through a 2 week road trip without some casualties… Caleb Fantillo suffered an injury in Spokane on Wednesday and was returned to Saskatoon. Gage Ramsay is the latest, not as serious but he will be out of the lineup this evening and is listed as day-to-day.

Last night the Blades went with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen as Aidan De La Gorgendiere made his WHL debut… tonight may see a balanced lineup.

Injury report:

F Caleb Fantillo – lower body, 6-8 weeks
F Gage Ramsay – lower body, day-to-day
G Ryan Kubic – Lower body, 2 weeks

Down & view the full game notes: game notes at POR dec3