ROUND 1 GAME 7 RECAP | Blades hold firm, advance to Round 2 with Game 7 win
Saskatoon, SK – A series people will talk about for decades.
The Saskatoon Blades stalled the Regina Pats 4-1 Monday night in Game 7 of their first-round WHL playoff series at SaskTel Centre to advance to Round 2.
In front of sold out crowd of 14,768 and vs WHL phenom Connor Bedard, the Blades rose to the occasion in the biggest spotlight imaginable.
Unlike the first six games of this series, goal scoring was difficult to come by for either side. The ice-breaker didn’t come until 14-seconds remained in the second period. 19-year-old defenceman Spencer Shugrue scored the biggest goal of his career up to this points sending the packed crowd into a frenzy.
A big change coming into the contest was in net. Rookie goalie Austin Elliott was back between the pipes after allowing nine goals in less than six periods during games 1 and 2. Saskatoon, SK. product Ethan Chadwick stole three victories for the Blades in the meantime, but tonight was a chance at redemption for Elliott. He lived up to his nickname, “Stone Cold” stopping 25 of 26 shots en route to his first career playoff victory.
History repeats itself as the last time these two teams met in a Game 7 was the first-round in 2000, which the Blades won in the same fashion as this series. Saskatoon trailed 2-0 initially before storming back to take a 3-2 series lead and dropping game six. In 2000, the Blades came back to home-ice and won 5-1 while 23-years later was a 4-1 decision.
The Blades advance to Round 2 for what should be a hard-hitting series vs the Red Deer Rebels. The Rebels defeated the Calgary Hitmen in five games of their first-round series coming into Game 1 Friday at SaskTel Centre with a bit more rest.
Saskatoon outshot Regina 30-15 after 40-minutes of play, so it felt a goal was coming sooner rather than later. Shugrue did so in nail-biting fashion opening the scoring in the dying seconds of the middle frame. The Vancouver, BC. product’s first career playoff goal will be one he remembers forever, and sent the Blades into the dressing room with all the momentum on their side. Shugrue also registered an assist on the Blades second goal of the game for his first multi-point game in the postseason. Forward Egor Sidorov also extended his point streak to six games with an assist on the goal.
Spencer Shugrue goes to the net and we ALL get rewarded 🥳 pic.twitter.com/brHc12EhKH
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 11, 2023
Just under eight-minutes into the third Edmonton Oilers prospect Jake Chiasson scored the eventual game-winner. The shot was almost identical to his overtime winner in Game 4, and makes it his second goal and third point of the postseason.
Jake Chiasson has a thing for scoring BIG GOALS 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZCx85gK1Q3
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 11, 2023
Regina defenceman Stanislav Svozil made things interesting bringing his club within one with under seven-minutes remaining. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect finished the playoffs with four goals and and 13 points in seven games.
Rosetown, SK’s own Vaughn Watterodt added to his stellar series with his third goal and seventh point to regain Saskatoon’s two-goal lead. 2:10 remained on the clock as Regina pulled goalie Drew Sim to get the extra-attacker on the ice. Blades alternate captain sealed the deal with his third goal and team-leading tenth points of the series into the wide open cage, blowing the roof off SaskTel Centre.
Lukas Hansen to Vaughn Watterodt.
Frame it. Put it in a museum. pic.twitter.com/03LUHkIrMi
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 11, 2023
What’s Next?
The Blades get set for action Friday at SaskTel Centre in Game 1 of their best-of-seven second-round series vs the Red Deer Rebels. Game 2 is Sunday on home-ice as well, before heading on the road for games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday.
Puck drop for Friday’s contest is 7:00pm, while Sunday is a 4:00pm start.
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Apr. 11th at 10:00am!
