ROUND 3 GAME 2 RECAP | Blades erase two-goal deficit to win Game 2 in overtime
Saskatoon, SK – Anything you can I can do better.
The Saskatoon Blades did just that in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Moose Jaw Warriors with a 3-2 overtime victory at SaskTel Centre on Saturday. The Blue and Gold trailed 2-0 after the first period and scored three unanswered goals to even the best-of-seven series 1-1. It’s the first Eastern Conference Final win for the Bridge City Bunch in 30 years.
Alternate captain Fraser Minten scored the overtime winner on the rush to send more than 9000 fans inside the arena into a frenzy. Forward Lukas Hansen set the play up with a gorgeous pass across, but credit has to be given to forward Vaughn Watterodt who blocked a shot in his own and broke the puck out to start the play. Minten is up to six goals and 11 points in 11 games these playoffs, this being his first game-winner.
Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Brandon Lisowsky and Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk both scored in the second period to tie things up heading into the third. Lisowsky has five goals and seven assists this postseason while Molendyk has two goals and six assists.
Rookie netminder Evan Gardner earned third star on the night stopping 25-of-27 shots in the win. The NHL draft-eligible goalie improved his record to 8-1 this postseason.
The Blades have a couple days off before games 3 and 4 in Moose Jaw next week.
The Warriors opened the scoring 12:33 into the first period, marking the first time this postseason the Blue and Gold have allowed the first tally of the game. Pending WHL graduate Atley Calvert potted his second goal in as many games, giving him three points this series.
19-year-old defenceman Kalem Parker made it 2-0 Warriors just under five minutes later. The Clavet, SK product has two goals and three assists this postseason. Saskatoon found themselves in a deficit heading into first intermission.
Roles reversed freom Game 1 as it was the Blades who scored a pair of goals in the middle frame to make it 2-2 heading into the third. Molendyk put the Blades on the board with a powerplay goal 11:00 into the period, giving him two goals and six assists in 11 games this postseason. Molendyk extended his point streak to four games with one goal and five assist during that stretch.
The goal starts AND ends with Tanner Molendyk!@PredsNHL pic.twitter.com/6MLFCkaKfr
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 28, 2024
Sidorov tried doing his signature between-the-legs move in tight on Warriors netminder Jackson Unger, but it was Lisowsky who tied the game with his fifth of the postseason. The Port Coquitlam, BC product erupted SaskTel Centre by cleaning up a loose puck in the Warriors crease to make it 2-2. Both men extended their point streaks to four games on the goal. Lisowsky has three goals and five assists in that span, while Sidorov has eight goals and three helpers.
Lisowsky ties the game and @SaskTelCtr is BUZZING!@MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/iXeR6mWC9g
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 28, 2024
Neither team capitalized in the third, giving fans inside SaskTel Centre a their second straight evening of overtime. Minten called game 13:06 into the extra frame.
Vaughn Watterodt with the block.
Lukas Hansen with the assist.
FRASER MINTEN WITH THE OT GAME WINNING GOAL!!!@MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/RuEmyTL4M9— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 28, 2024
What’s Next?
Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final is Tuesday, April 30th at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, followed by Game 4 the next night. Both games start at 7:00pm CT.