ROUND 2 GAME 3 RECAP | Blades one win away from Eastern Conference Final after 8-5 win over Rebels
Red Deer, AB – The Saskatoon Blades stayed one step ahead of the Red Deer Rebels on Tuesday at the Peavey Mart Centrium to win 8-5 in Game 3. Saskatoon now lead the series 3-0, putting them one win away from their second straight Eastern Conference Final appearance.
Every time is looked as if the Blades were going to run away with the game, the Rebels would crawl back and stay on their heels, including two shorthanded goals. Known for their defensive game, the Blades showed they can go full throttle on offence when it’s needed.
Anaheim Ducks prospect Egor Sidorov scored his first career WHL playoff hat-trick, his third goal being the game-winner late in the second period. The 6-foot sniper snapped a three-game goalless drought and leads the team with seven in eight playoff games.
Captain Trevor Wong was first star of the game with a goal and three assists. The 20-year-old centre extended his point streak to four games (2G, 6A) and leads the club in points this postseason with three goals and ten assists.
Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Brandon Lisowsky finished with a goal and two assists, giving him seven points (3G, 4A) in his last four games. The Port Coquitlam, BC product is up to three goals and eight points in eight games this postseason, matching his previous career-high goal totals at the spring dance.
It wasn’t rookie netminder Evan Gardner’s night, allowing four goals on 20 shots. Veteran goalie Austin Elliott replaced Gardner about 35 minutes into the contest and stopped 16-of-17 shots to calm things down.
The Blades have won seven straight games, improving to 7-1 in the playoffs. A win tomorrow would send Saskatoon back to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in as many seasons.
Blades alternate captain Charlie Wright opened the scoring 2:36 into the contest, something Saskatoon’s done every game so far in the playoffs. The Olds, AB product snapped the puck past 15-year-old netminder Taylor Tabashniuk with plenty of family in attendance. Wright leads all Saskatoon defenceman in points with eight (2G, 6A) in as many games these playoffs.
Charlie Wright opens the scoring in front of a packed house of Charlie Wright friends and family (and some Rebels fans) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gLfoPFC3BB
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
Rebels forward Carson Latimer tied the game 14 seconds later with his fifth of the playoffs. Latimer has points in four straight, scoring two goals and two assists in that span.
Less than five minutes later, 18-year-old forward Rowan Calvert regained the Blades lead with his first career WHL playoff goal. The Moose Jaw, SK product beamed a shot past Tabashniuk for his second point of the postseason.
Rowan Calvert with speed and power gets his first career playoff goal 🚨 pic.twitter.com/YLxMFNMiip
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
Sidorov scored his first of three tallies 20 seconds later to make it 3-1 Saskatoon.
Egor Sidorov scores just 20 seconds after Calvert 🤯@AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/8EnCFOqiFx
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
The Blades were awarded the game’s first powerplay 10:34 into the first, but Rebels forward Carson Birnie scored a short-handed goal to bring the Rebels within one. Birnie has three goals and one assist in eight playoff games and finished the night with five shots. A chaotic first period came to an end as the Blades outshot the Rebels 14-10.
Red Deer defenceman Quentin Bourne tied the game with his first career playoff goal 2:16 into the second.
Wong responded less than a minute later with his third of the playoffs to give Saskatoon a 4-3 lead. Gardner received the secondary assist on the goal as Wong made a great effort to strip Red Deer defenceman Mats Lindgren of the puck.
Trevor Wong with the stick lift + quick release 💪 pic.twitter.com/GzOkA3OssW
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
Sidorov padded Saskatoon’s lead by two with his second of the game about halfway through the middle frame. The Belarusian winger initially lost the puck inside the Rebels end but fought for it back and showed great patience to finish of the play.
Egor Sidorov shows off his skill and patience for his second goal of the night@AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/DJdCTBL5jn
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
Nashville Predators prospect Kalan Lind brought Red Deer within one again with his fourth of the postseason.
Sidorov completed the hat-trick with 1:25 left to go in the second for his first career three goal game in the playoffs.
Egor playing on Easy Mode 🤯
His hat trick goal is pretty, pretty sweet @AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/NZUTddKAE2
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
Lisowsky picked up his third point after beating Tabashniuk with a shot on the powerplay 6:27 into the final frame.
Brandon Lisowsky scores on the power play after some great passing from Molendyk and Wong @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/CqTwko6KEM
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
Rebels forward Talon Brigley brought the Rebels within two after a short-handed goal on a five-minute powerplay for the Blades.
Bridge City’s Lukas Hansen got his first point of the postseason with an empty-net goal to make it 8-5 Saskatoon.
What’s Next?
The Blades can punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final for a second straight year with a win tomorrow night in Red Deer.
Puck drop for Game 4 is 7:00pm at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
