ROUND 2 GAME 4 | Blades complete sweep over Rebels with 7-0 thumping
Red Deer, AB – The Saskatoon Blades seem to always find a way to win four straight against the Red Deer Rebels.
Saskatoon swept the Rebels in their Round 2 best-of-seven series rematch after a 7-0 victory Wednesday at the Peavey Mart Centrium in Game 4. The impressive feat comes one year after the Blades pulled off a 3-0 series comeback against the Rebels, just the third time in WHL history a team has done so. For the third time in franchise history, the Blades are headed to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals.
Everything clicked for the Blue and Gold in Game 4. Anaheim Ducks prospect Egor Sidorov scored his second hat-trick in as many nights with two assists to go along with his first star performance. The Belarusian sniper came into games 3 and 4 in Red Deer pointless and left with six goals and two assists. Sidorov’s performance gives him the lead in team scoring this postseason with ten goals and 14 points in nine games.
Rookie netminder Evan Gardner stopped all 26 Red Deer shots for his first career WHL playoff shutout. After being yanked in Game 3 for allowing four goals on 20 shots, the NHL draft-eligible goalie bounced back to improve his playoff record to 7-0. Gardner boasts a 1.66 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in the postseason.
Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Brandon Lisowsky collected a goal and two assists for third star honours. The Port Coquitlam, BC product has two goals and four assists in his last two contests, giving him four goals and 11 points in nine games.
Defencemen Ben Saunderson and Nicholas Andrusiak each had a pair of assists in Game 4. Saunderson’s up to two goals and five helpers in nine games, while Andrusiak has a trio of apples in six games.
The Blades have won eight straight games and are headed back to the Eastern Conference Final with a much deserved rest until then. Saskatoon awaits who their opponent will be from the Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos series. The Warriors currently lead the series 3-1.
Sidorov got the party started under four minutes into the game on a delayed penalty.
Egor Sidorov on the delayed penalty for his 8th of the postseason 🤩@AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/4YVtvIzYvW
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 18, 2024
Moose Jaw, SK’ own Rowan Calvert scored short-handed for Saskatoon just under three minutes later to make it 2-0. The sophomore forward has goals in back-to-back games and three points in nine games.
Rowan Calvert turns on the jets for this gorgeous shorty pic.twitter.com/ER9UZLYmfY
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 18, 2024
Sidorov got his second of the night with just over three minutes left in the frame to make it 3-0 Saskatoon. The 6-foot winger’s beautiful backhand shared WHL Highlight of the Night with his hat-trick tally later in the game.
The Sid-o-rama™@AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/fmcka2e9EV
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 18, 2024
Lisowsky made it 4-0 Blades with 1:12 remaining in the first, completing a dominant period that saw the Bridge City Bunch outshoot the Rebels 12-6.
Brandon Lisowsky splits the defence and goes five-hole @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/NmBiKTwbXX
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 18, 2024
Sidorov’s third goal came 2:15 into the middle frame with a gorgeous between-the-legs goal.
Egor Sidorov with a 🔥 hat trick goal@AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/3kqMqOjewS
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 18, 2024
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten scored his fifth of the playoffs just over halfway through the contest.
Minten➡️Sidorov➡️Minten@MapleLeafs🤝 @AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/Ccwrlls2N7
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 18, 2024
Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Suzdalev made it 7-0 Blades 4:52 into the third, and capped off a dominating night for Saskatoon.
Alexander Suzdalev scores from a sharp angle for his third of the playoffs@Capitals pic.twitter.com/EfOM2ArqtE
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 18, 2024
What’s Next?
The Blades enjoy some much needed rest while they await their Eastern Conference Final opponent from the Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos series. The Warriors lead that series 3-1.