ROUND 1 GAME 2 PREVIEW | Blades eye series tie in Game 2 versus Hitmen
2025 WHL PLAYOFFS | Round 1 Game 2 | Saskatoon Blades (0-1) @ Calgary Hitmen (1-0)
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Tonight
The Saskatoon Blades (0-1) look to tie their Round 1 best-of-seven playoff series 1-1 against the Calgary Hitmen (1-0) at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Blades dropped Game 1 Friday night on the road 4-2. Trailing 4-1 in the third period, Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing brought the Blades within two. That marked the last goal of the night for either side, giving the Hitmen a 1-0 series lead. The Blades and Hitmen were one of two matchups not scheduled last night.
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20-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann scored the team’s first goal of the game Friday against Calgary. The Langley, BC native beamed a shot from the point to pick up his second career WHL playoff goal. Siepmann’s other postseason tally came in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final last season against the Moose Jaw Warriors. In 22 career playoff games, Siepmann has two goals and ten assists for 12 points.
Calgary, AB native’s Willy James and Cooper Williams had an assist in Friday’s Game 1 loss to Calgary. James assisted on Siepmann’s goal in the second period, giving him four assists in 16 career playoff games. Williams’ helper came on Laing’s goal in the third period, marking his first career WHL playoff point. The 2008-born centre finished second in WHL rookie scoring with a 21 goals and 36 assists for 57 points in 68 games.
Sophomore goalie Evan Gardner was busy in Game 1 against the Hitmen. The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick stopped 40 of 44 Hitmen shots, posting a .909 save percentage in the team’s opening playoff game. Gardner is 10-5 in his WHL postseason career with a .910 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average, and one shutout.
