Highlights & Recap: Blades Blanked By Warriors
Moose Jaw, SK – The Saskatoon Blades just weren’t able to get anything going Friday night as the Moose Jaw Warriors skated a 4-0 shut out victory. The win extends the Warriors point streak to 6 games, while the Blades 4 game point streak came to a halt. Saskatoon is now 15-21-5-1 on the season and still remain 4 points out of a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The game started out with the Blades being awarded a power play 43 seconds in when Brayden Burke was called for hooking. Heading into tonight the Blades power play was 6/19 since the holiday break, so it appeared to be a great way to start. However, Moose Jaw was able to survive without surrendering an early goal. It took almost the entire period for Moose Jaw to see their first opportunity on the man advantage, and it didn’t take long for the Warriors to strike. Brayden Burke was credited with his 11th of the season after his pass attempt from behind the net went off Libor Hájek and into the Blades net. The goal came just 9 seconds into the power play, and it would stand as the lone marker after the opening frame.
The second period started much like the first, with a penalty being called in the first minute. Blades d-man Bryton Sayers was assessed a tripping minor, putting Moose Jaw’s power play back to work; and it was work they did. Brayden Burke scored his 2nd of the game through a crowd to beat Brock Hamm. The wrist shot whizzed by the Blades net minder who wasn’t able to pick up the release through several bodies in his sightline. Moose Jaw was up 2-0 early in the period. Both goals were on the man advantage, and both came from Brayden Burke. Midway through the period, the Blades had a chance to cut into the lead when they were awarded 41 seconds of 5-on-3 time. Saskatoon tried their best to find an open seam in the Warriors penalty kill, but weren’t able to light the lamp. Instead it would be the Warriors adding to their lead just before the second penalty expired. Jayden Halbgewachs stuffed his 35th of the season past Brock Hamm to put the home team up 3-0. Halbgewachs leads the league with 35 goals, and the shorty moves him into a 2nd place tie with 4 short handed goals on the season.
Despite trailing 3-0 after 40 minutes of hockey, and being outshot 22-20 the game still seemed as though it was within reach for the Blades. Saskatoon has shown strong character lately, and despite the score it didn’t feel like the Warriors were in charge heading into the third.
In the final 20 minutes, Saskatoon wasn’t able to generate many scoring chances due to Moose Jaw’s tight defensive scheme holding onto a 3-0 lead. Brett Howden added one more goal in the 3rd period to make it 4-0 which was the eventual final score. Brody Wilms picked up his first career shutout in the WHL, stopping all 23 shots faced. Brock Hamm deserved a better fate after making several highlight reel saves to keep his team in the game. Hamm went 27/31 on the night, and was hit with his first regulation loss since November.
The Blades will now begin a lengthy home stretch playing 12 of their next 13 games at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. It all begins Saturday night when the Tri-City Americans come to town, puck drop is at 7:00pm. Tickets are available online here.