ROUND 3 GAME 3 RECAP | Blades unable to best Unger, drop Game 3 of Eastern Conference Finals
Moose Jaw, SK – The Saskatoon Blades were handed a 3-1 loss Tuesday at the Moose Jaw Events Centre in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals by the Warriors.
Defenceman Grayden Siepmann opened the scoring for Saskatoon just over halfway through the first period, giving the 2004-born blueliner his first goal as a member of the Blue and Gold. The 5-foot-11 defender was acquired by the Blades on Oct. 10th, 2023 and got a massive monkey off his back in this contest. In 12 games this postseason, the former Calgary Hitmen has seven points and is a +9.
The Warriors responded with three unanswered goals in the final 40 minutes of the game to take a 2-1 series lead.
Rookie netminder Evan Gardner was stellar between the pipes for Saskatoon, stopping 29-of-31 shots against in his 11th postseason appearance. The NHL draft-eligible goalie’s record falls to 8-2 in the playoffs.
The first goal has been a killer in this series. Whoever scores the opening goal of the game has gone on to lose once the final horn sounded.
If there is ever a time to end a massive goal drought, the Eastern Conference Final seems like a good option to get that done. Siepmann found the back of the net for the first time as a member of the Blades since being acquired Oct. 10th, 2023 from the Calgary Hitmen. The 2004-born defender ripped a point-shot 10:50 into the opening frame past Moose Jaw goalie Jackson Unger to put Saskatoon up 1-0. Siepmann has eight points in 12 games these playoffs. Pending WHL graduate Easton Armstrong picked up right where he left off before his four-game suspension, notching the primary assist in his first game back in the lineup. Armstrong has five goals and four assists in seven games this postseason.
Grayden Siepmann scores his first goal as a Blade in his 65th game 👏 pic.twitter.com/SG7mRvKJhE
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) May 1, 2024
Warriors forward Atley Calvert tied the game 3:43 into the second on the team’s first powerplay marker of the series. The pending WHL graduate has goals in all three games this series, making it the third time these two clubs went to the third period tied up.
Fellow overage Warrior Martin Rysavy took the lead for his club 7:14 into the third with his fourth of the postseason. Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie extended his point streak to 27 games with a secondary assist on the play. Moose Jaw captain Denton Mateychuk put his sixth goal of the postseason into the empty net with 1:13 left in the game to solidify the 3-1 Warriors win.
What’s Next?
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final gets underway tomorrow night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Puck drop is 7:00pm.