Blades rally with three third-period goals to extend series
Blades 4 Rebels 2
The more desperate team brought their A-game in the third period Wednesday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
The Saskatoon Blades, facing elimination in a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference semifinal, downed the Red Deer Rebels 4-2 before 4,702 fans to stay alive in the series.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, the visitors struck for three goals in a four-minute span to pull out the win and take the series back to Saskatoon for Game 5 Friday with the Rebels up three games to one.
“They played hard, I thought we played hard. We had chances but couldn’t get that third goal that would have maybe helped a bit,” said Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk.
“But it’s playoffs. We have to get ready for tomorrow. That’s all we can do.
It’s never easy. We have to get some rest tonight and get on the road and get ready to battle.”
More concerning to the Rebels was an injury to forward Kalan Lind just over three minutes into the game. Lind was knocked unconscious on a hit to the head by Justin Lies, who was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct.
Lind was transported off the ice on a stretcher and taken to Red Deer Regional Hospital. A Rebels report following the first period stated that he was conscious and aware and undergoing further testing. He was later released from hospital.
The Rebels scored once on the lengthy power play with Kai Uchacz burying a rebound during a goalmouth scramble.
“That’s something you never wish on anyone, especially a teammate,” said Uchacz, in reference to Lind. “I think he’s in good hands now.”
Uchacz struck again later in the period, moving into the top of the left circle and beating netminder Ethan Chadwick through the pads.
But that was it for the home side, who fired 36 shots at Chadwick but couldn’t find that all important third tally despite having a four-minute power play in the second period.
Instead, Blades captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere cut the deficit to one just past the midway point of the middle frame with a power play point shot through a crowd.
The Blades then cranked it up early in the third. Jayden Wiens pulled Saskatoon even with a shot from the high slot at the 4:12 mark, Brandon Lisowsky took a stretch pass from Ben Saunderson and broke in alone to score the eventual winner 43 seconds later, and Tanner Molendyk connected at 8:15.
The Rebels didn’t apply any sustained pressure until late in the game. Too little, too late.
“We expected a big push from them,” said Uchacz. “They played a good game. They came out in the third and they wanted it more than us.”
Konowalchuk said the injury to Lind might have affected his club regarding their inability to pull away in the first period.
“I think a bit at first,” he said. “On the power play it took us a bit to kind of get our legs and minds.
“It’s hard when you see that happen to one of your teammates. I don’t think that’s any reason (why the Rebels lost). We were in position to win that game, but it didn’t happen and now we just have to move forward.”
So the series moves back to Saskatoon with the Rebels still in the driver’s seat.
“We’re going to rest here, get on the bus tomorrow, get there and prepare like we have all series,” said Uchacz. “Get back to it.”
Notable: The Rebels were one-for-three on the power play, the Blades one-for-two. . . Chadwick was a big reason the Blades pulled out the victory, turning aside 34 shots. Included was a key two-one-stop on Jhett Larson in the second period. Kyle Kelsey made 20 saves for the Rebels, including robbing Charlie Wright on a one-timer, taking a goal away from Lisowsky and sliding across to get a pad on a wrap-around attempt by Jordan Keller . . . The three stars: (1) Lisowsky, (2) Uchacz and (3) De La Gorgendiere . . . Jace Isley drew an assist on each of the Red Deer goals . . . If the Blades extend the series again Friday, Game 6 will be played Sunday afternoon (2 p.m. start) at the Peavey Mart Centrium. A seventh game, if needed, will go Tuesday in Saskatoon.
