WIN COLUMN | Rhinehart lifts Blades to critical victory, Game 5 on Friday
SASKATOON, SK — The Saskatoon Blades are still alive.
Alternate captain Rhett Rhinehart scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period, lifting the Blades to a death-defying 5-3 victory in Game 4 over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday night.
Game 5 is set for Friday night at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw.
Saskatoon’s first win of the post-season came thanks to two first-period markers, a single goal in the second, and Rhinehart’s go-ahead goal in the final frame.
The Blades also received goals from Egor Sidorov, Kyle Crnkovic and Noah Boyko in a game that send the series south-bound. Crnkovic iced down any hope of a comeback with an empty netter — his second goal of the game — to earn the third star.
Nolan Maier was next to flawless, stopping 32 to take second-star honours. Carl Tetachuk takes his first loss in Moose Jaw’s net with 25 saves.
Rhinehart sent the 3400 fans into elation midway through the third, breaking a 3-3 tie with a seeing-eye snapshot through the glove of Tetachuk. The goal, first of the playoffs, earned him the game’s first star.
Strength of a Rhino behind this one 🚨🎯 pic.twitter.com/GDmtEsgRl5
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 28, 2022
Maximus Wanner took third star honours with two goals for Moose Jaw, while Ryder Korzac rounded out goal scoring for the visiting squad.
Should Saskatoon stave off elimination again, Game 6 would be back at SaskTel Centre on Saturday.
Nolan Maier roared the crowd to life with one of his trademark highlight-reel stops to open the game.
Nolan Maier came to play 👏 pic.twitter.com/37Z8RDE1b4
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 28, 2022
Maier left the first period stopping all 11 shots fired his way.
On the other end of the ice, Saskatoon cashed in with a pair of late goal to take a 2-0 lead into the second.
Belarusian forward Egor Sidorov finished off a delicate passing play involving Rhett Rhinehart and Josh Pillar in the slot, firing a snapshot top corner.
Josh can pass it and Egor can shoot it 🚀 pic.twitter.com/l1nI2HYIu0
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 28, 2022
With just 10 seconds left on the clock, Kyle Crnkovic stuck a dagger into the Warriors. The alternate captain, who led the team in scoring through the regular season, took a pass from Trevor Wong and fired a wrist-shot over the blocker of Tetachuk.
Defenceman Maximus Wanner notched his first of two in the second period crossing the midway mark, cutting the Blades lead in half. The Estevan, SK product threw a long shot from the point, fooling Maier and putting the Warriors on the board.
Sprung on a two-on-none, Brandon Lisowsky fed Noah Boyko in tight who tapped home his first of the playoffs with ease.
Lisowsky and Boyko capitalize 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AJbjODgUXA
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 28, 2022
Wanner added another with under two minutes left in the second, capitalizing on a Warriors powerplay.
The Warriors maintained a 23-22 edge in shots, although the Blades entered the third period with a one-goal lead.
Moose Jaw found a way to tie the game, with Ryder Korzac netting his second of the series, but the Blades answered the bell a short time later.
Tyler Parr sent a lead pass to defenceman Rhett Rhinehart, who walked in on the right-wing a wired a shot passed the glove of Tetachuk with just over 11 minutes to play. Set to graduate after the end of the playoffs, Rhinehart’s first career playoff marker gave the Blades the necessary lift to cruise to victory.
Saskatoon will look to avoid elimination a second time on Friday, traveling to Moose Jaw for Game 5 at SaskTel Centre.
