Blades Close Regular Season VS. Broncos

The Saskatoon Blades (40-28-1-2) look to finish off the regular season on a high note as they play host to the Swift Current Broncos (26-37-2-6).

The Blades currently sit 5th in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 83 points. Swift Current enters the game with a total of 60 points, good for 10th in the Conference.

Blades Last Game

The Blades got three points each from Matej Stransky and Josh Nicholls as they walked into Swift Current and took game one of the home and home with the Broncos last night.   The Blades survived a strong third period push by Swift Current, but walked away with a 5-3 victory.

Saskatoon used the powerplay to their advantage in the game, scoring two powerplay goals on five man advantage opportunities.  After it was all said and done, the Blades got their goals from Nick Zajac, Stransky, Connor Cox and two from Nicholls.

Andrey Makarov blocked 30 shots to win his 29th game of the season.

Previous Meetings

Tonight marks the 8th and final meeting of the year between the Blades and Broncos.

So far the Blades are 6-1 against Swift Current this year, outscoring them by a count of 33-24.  The games have been as follows:

– Blades win 7-5 in Swift Current on November 9th

– Blades win 4-1 in Swift Current on January 13th

– Blades win 3-1 in Saskatoon on January 31st

– Blades win 4-3 in Saskatoon on February 8th

– Blades win 7-3 in Saskatoon on February 17th

– Blades lose 8-3 in Swift Current on February 18th

– Blades win 5-3 in Swift Current on March 16th

Stransky Sizzles

Blades leading scorer Matej Stransky continues his torrid pace to close out the regular season.  The Dallas Stars draft pick has had multi-point games in  3 of his last 4 games.  He has points in 7 of his last 8 games overall, with 16 points over that span.

This year he has 38 goals and 80 points, far surpassing the 26 points he scored as a rookie last season with Saskatoon.

Bronco Killer

Saskatoon Blades forward Josh Nicholls has had a ton of success against the Swift Current Broncos this year.

Last night he had 2 goals and an assist as he now has 7 goals and 13 points in 6 games against Swift Current this year.   That mark leads the team in the season series.  Nicholls also leads the Blades in +/- against the Broncos this year, going +5.

Nicholls has been well over a point per game this season, putting up  30 goals and 67 points in 55 games. 

Hardware Winners

Following tonight’s game the Blades will unveil their award winners for the 2011-2012 season during the North Ridge Developments award ceremony.

The Blades will hand out 15 awards in total, including MVP, top defenceman, top rookie, top defensive forward, hardest hitter and top community minded player.  The Blades will also take the time to acknowledge their three graduating 20 year old players.

Blades Statistical Leaders

– Matej Stransky leads the team with 38 goals, 42 assists and 80 points.

– Connor Cox leads the team with a +28 rating.

– Lukas Sutter leads the team with 165 penalty minutes.

–  Stransky leads the team with 13 powerplay goals.

– Josh Nicholls leads the team with 5 shorthanded goals.

– Sutter leads the team with 7 game winning goals.

Blades Approaching Milestones

– Last game Duncan Siemens surpassed 250 career PIMs

– Matej Stransky recently recorded his 50th career assist and 100th career point

– Kyle Haas recently surpassed 100 career PIMs with a fight against Antoine Corbin

– Lukas Sutter cracked the 350 career PIM milestone recently against Prince Albert

– Brent Benson is 1 point away from 100 in his career

– Darren Dietz is 1 assist away from 50 in his career

– Locke Muller is 3 games away from 100 in his career

– Darren Dietz is 3 games away from 150 in his career

– Lukas Sutter is 3 games from 150 in his career

– Ryan Olsen is 4 points away from 50 in his career

– Lukas Sutter is 5 assists away from 50 in his career

 

Tonight’s game gets underway at 7:00 PM from the Credit Union Centre. The game is also full of great promotions! It’s season ticket holder appreciation night as season ticket holder’s will have an increased chance of winning in game prizes.  Three members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders will be in attendance at the game to sign autographs.  Plus, the first 1000 fans through the door will get a free Blades had, courtesy of Sasktel!

Saskatoon Blades Hockey, It Starts Here!