BLADES SKATE BY TIGERS IN OT
The Tigers and the Blades have already played each other twice this season and have created bit of a rivalry already. The Blades took the first two games, a 5-1 win in Medicine Hat and a 4-3 shootout win on home ice. Both teams are in the thick of the Eastern Conference and battling for position. Even though the season is still relatively young each point is critical to help distance themselves for the pack. On this night the Blades were able to steal an extra point away from the Tigers with a 2-1 win in overtime.
Hunter Shinkaruk opened the games scoring for the Tigers in the first period with his 26th goal of the season. Jayden Hart and Boston Leier both picked up assists on the goal. Unfortunately for the Tigers it was the only goal that they would score in the game. The Tigers went 0 for 2 on the power play while killing of 3 of 4 penalties. The Tigers received great goaltending in net from Tyler Bunz. The Tigers gave up 45 shots and Bunz kept them in the game making 43 saves.
With Bunz playing great for the Tigers it took a while for the Saskatoon offence to get on the board. Josh Nicholls scored his 18th of the season with under a minute remaining in the second period to tie the game. Nicholls would strike again for the Blades in overtime while the Blades were on the 4 on 3 power play. The Blades also received great support in net from their goaltender. Andrey Makarov only let one of the 24 Tigers shots get past him in 61 minutes of play.
Earls Three Stars of the Night:
1) Tyler Bunz – Medicine Hat Tigers
2) Andrey Makarov – Saskatoon Blades
3) Josh Nicholls – Saskatoon Blades
Dickies Hardest Working Player – Matthew Konan
The Tigers’ next game is Saturday night against the Spokane Chiefs at the Arena. Game time is 7:30 (MST) and can be heard live on CHAT 94.5 FM at tigershockey.com or watched via webcast at livestream.whl.ca.
