Ho hum…another one-goal game and another 2-1 victory for the Saskatoon Blades!
Saturday was the Bridge City Bunch’s 10th game of the 2019-2020 W-H-L regular-season…and it finished as the 10th contest in which the margin of victory was one goal. What is more phenomenal is that the Blue and Gold’s last four successes have all finished with a 2-1 scoreline…which is what it was Saturday for the Blades over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“We’re 10 games into the season now, every game has been one goal and we know how to play those games,” explained Saskatoon defenceman Nolan Kneen. “We’re comfortable, we don’t want to stray away from the systems or anything…just a team effort and we like playing in those games.”
Kneen scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal at 2:50 of the third period. Riley McKay (pictured) assisted on that tally, plus he opened the game scoring late in the second frame. Add in a first period fight with rookie Lethbridge forward Nick Dorrington and 20-year-old McKay posted a fabled “Gordie Howe hat trick.”
Dylan Cozens made things interesting with his sixth goal of the season, beating rookie Bridge City Bunch goaltender Koen MacInnes only to have the Blue and Gold lock it down defensively over the final 7:01 to improve their record to 6-3-1…good for second place in the East Division. It was the Blades’ third straight win and the sixth consecutive game in which they picked up at least one point in the standings.
The Hurricanes, who were out-shot 30-27 in front of 3,810 fans at SaskTel Centre, fall to 3-4-1.
Saskatoon plays their next four games on the road, starting Thanksgiving Day Monday when they visit the Calgary Hitmen. Game time is 2 p.m. with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show at 1. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Lethbridge Hurricanes 1 at Saskatoon Blades 2 – Status: Final
Saturday, October 12, 2019 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Lethbridge 0 0 1 – 1
Saskatoon 0 1 1 – 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Kambeitz Let (slashing), 6:59; Wilson Let (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:59; Kucerik Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:59; Addison Let (cross checking), 8:49; Dorrington Let (major-fighting), 13:10; McKay Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting), 13:10.
2nd Period-1, Saskatoon, McKay 4 (McNabb, Walford), 14:52. Penalties-Zabransky Sas (interference), 0:45; Wheatcroft Let (tripping), 9:29; Arntsen Let (delay of game), 10:41.
3rd Period-2, Saskatoon, Kneen 2 (Wouters, McKay), 2:50. 3, Lethbridge, Cozens 6 12:59. Penalties-Walford Sas (inter. on goaltender), 6:08; Palivko Let (interference), 9:39; Boyko Let (holding), 15:59.
Shots on Goal-Lethbridge 9-8-10-27. Saskatoon 8-15-7-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Lethbridge 0 / 3; Saskatoon 0 / 6.
Goalies-Lethbridge, Tetachuk 0-2-0-1 (30 shots-28 saves). Saskatoon, MacInnes 2-0-0-0 (27 shots-26 saves).
A-3,810
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Troy Murray (34).
Linesmen-Tanner McGregor (55), Aiden Penner (109).
