WHL Morning Skate: April 15

NEED TO KNOW

– Saskatoon’s Ben Saunderson scored 17:01 into overtime to seal a 2-0 series lead for the Blades

– Red Deer has played four overtime periods in seven playoff games

– Portland will try to push Everett to the brink of elimination tonight

RESULTS

Red Deer 1, Saskatoon 2 (OT)

SAS leads 2-0

Game 2 saw sensational performances from a pair of rookie netminders. Chase Wutzke saved 47 of 49 shots, his busiest game of the postseason, while Evan Gardner stood tall with 24 saves on 25 shots. With the game-opening goal,  Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten is now on a three-game point streak for Saskatoon, tallying four goals and two assists. Nashville Predators prospect Kalan Lind had the lone goal for the Rebels.

THREE STARS

1- Ben Saunderson, SAS

-1G, 1A, +2

2- Chase Wutzke

-47/49 saves

-.959 save percentage

3- Evan Gardner, SAS

-24/25 saves

-.960 save percentage

TOP PERFORMER

Blades veteran Ben Saunderson was in on both Saskatoon goals in a 2-1 overtime thriller in Game 2 on Sunday night.

Midway through the first frame, Saunderson broke up a Rebels rush and banked the puck up the boards for Fraser Minten, who took off to snag the game-opening goal.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defenceman came up clutch again in overtime, flying up the ice to receive a beautiful pass from Captain Trevor Wong and snapping the puck past Chase Wutzke.

Saunderson has set career highs in postseason goals and points, grabbing his second goal and fifth point of the 2024 WHL Playoffs.

OT MAGIC FROM THE DAWG!!!!! pic.twitter.com/djejun5znV

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 15, 2024

ON TAP