Highlights & Recap: Tigers power play puts Blades away
Medicine Hat – The Saskatoon Blades gave up five power play goals on Friday night in a 5-2 losing effort to the Medicine Hat Tigers. The loss drops the Blades record to 2-5-0-0 on the season as they wrap up a three game road trip Saturday night in Red Deer.
The Blades came out strong early on but found themselves having to kill off a penalty five minutes into the game. They were unsuccessful as David Quenneville snuck in behind the Blades defense to fill a gaping cage behind Ryan Kubic. Saskatoon did respond roughly ten minutes later as Michael Farren set up Jackson Caller who was streaking into the high slot. Caller ripped a shot glove side past Jordan Hollett for his first career WHL goal. Lukus added the second assist for his 3rd point of the season as the first period ended in a 1-1 tie.
The second period had good pace with both netminders keeping it scoreless through the first half of the frame. Then the Tigers were back on the power play and James Hamblin restored the lead for the home side making it 2-1. Minutes later the Blades were awarded their first man advantage of the game and made good use of it. Josh Paterson banged in a rebound for his first goal of the season and second point in as many games. Chase Wouters and Libor Hájek had the helpers. But again the Tigers would strike on the power play. Mark Rassell tipped in a point shot giving Medicine Hat a one goal lead heading into the 3rd.
You guessed it; more of the same in the final frame. Josh Williams scored on the power play just 1:34 into the 3rd, and Kristian Rubins put the nail in the coffin with a wrister from the point for the 5-2 final.
Saskatoon’s special teams were the undoing in the game as they went 2/7 on the penalty kill while going 1/3 on the power play.
For the second straight game a Blades’ d-man scored a career first goal and the power play marker from Paterson was the Blades 3rd consecutive game scoring on the man advantage. Although the end result wasn’t good, the secondary scoring and power play has been steadily improving.
Medicine Hat obviously had Braylon Shmyr and Cameron Hebig on their radar and limited the dynamic duo to just 5 shots combined and zero points.
Saskatoon will look to salvage their three game road trip tomorrow night in Red Deer with their first meeting of the season with the Rebels.
Game time is 7:00pm with the pre-game show beginning on 92.9 The Bull FM at 6:30pm.
The next Blades home game is on Wednesday, October 18th, when the Vancouver Giants come to town. Click here for tickets or call 306.975.8844 to book your group night or experience package!
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