ROUND 1 GAME 3 RECAP | Strong start not enough as Blades fall in Game 3 against Hitmen
Saskatoon, SK – If there’s one team that knows what it takes to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the WHL playoffs, it’s the Saskatoon Blades.
The Bridge City Bunch dropped Game 3 of their Round 1 series 4-1 on Tuesday at SaskTel Centre against the Calgary Hitmen, now trailing 3-0 in the series.
Blades rookie forward David Lewandowski sent a jolt through 5,000+ fans on home ice with a powerplay goal in the second period to tie the game 1-1. The NHL draft-eligible winger’s first goal of the postseason came 2:31 into the frame, making Saskatoon 1/4 on the man-advantage in Game 3. Rookie forward Cooper Williams and first-year defenceman Brayden Klimpke picked up their second assists of the playoffs on Saskatoon’s first powerplay goal of the series.
Sophomore netminder Evan Gardner stopped 26 of 30 Hitmen shots in the loss. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect drops to 0-3 in the 2025 postseason with a .896 save percentage and 4.52 goals against average.
It’s do-or-die for the Blades tomorrow night on home ice as the Hitmen are one win away from punching their ticket to the second round. Puck drop is 7:00pm.
Hitmen forward David Adaszynski broke the ice with 53 seconds remaining in the first period to make it 1-0 Hitmen. The 19-year-old centre’s first goal of the postseason put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes for the third straight game this series.
The Blades got their third powerplay of the game 2:17 into the second frame. Lewandowski wired a shot past Hitmen netminder Anders Miller to make it a 1-1 game.
David Lewandowski makes QUICK work of the power play to tie it up 🔥 @BladesHockey | #NHLDraft | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/gWVZyhILWE
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) April 2, 2025
Despite several good looks for the Blue and Gold, the Hitmen scored the next two goals. Prince Albert, SK native Tanner Howe made it 2-1 Calgary 11:22 into the second, followed by forward Ben Kindel’s second of the postseason less than two minutes later to give the visitors a two-goal lead.
Hitmen forward Connor Hvidston made it 4-1 with 8:27 left in the game with his first of the postseason. The Tisdale, SK native’s goal stood as the final one of Game 3.
What’s Next?
The Blades try to keep their season alive tomorrow night at SaskTel Centre in Game 4 against the Hitmen.
Puck drop is 7:00pm.
