The Saskatoon Blades have won back-to-back games for the first time in nine weeks, thanks to Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos.
The Bridge City Bunch received 28-save goaltending from Nolan Maier (pictured) and timely-scoring in an intense, close-checking, playoff-style contest in front of 2,207 fans at SaskTel Centre. That allowed the 19-14-2 Blue and Gold to take both ends of a home-and-home series from 13-17-5 Speedy Creek, the first time the Blades had won back-to-back games since November 9 against visiting Edmonton and November 12 in Brandon. Maier has 16 wins for the season and 107 for his W-H-L career, lifting the 21-year-old Yorkton product into a five-way tie for 10th place on the all-time list and 12 wins short of the record of 120, jointly held by Corey Hirsch and Tyson Sexsmith. Kyle Crnkovic opened and finished the scoring, becoming the first Saskatoon player to reach the 20-goal and 50-point plateau this season. Tristen Robins scored a power play goal and added two assists, giving him six goals and seven assists for 13 points in his last four games. The man advantage goal gave the Bridge City Bunch a power play tally in five straight games. Vaughan Watterodt added the other goal for the Blue and Gold, the first in 31 games in the 17-year-old Rosetown product’s W-H-L career. The Blades’ victory, coupled with Moose Jaw and Brandon losing Saturday, moves Saskatoon into sole possession of second place in the East Division and fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Bridge City Bunch are now off until next weekend when they are home to Medicine Hat Friday and Winnipeg Saturday. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L as well as Les Lazaruk’s CJWW post-game show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Maier and Watterodt…..
Swift Current Broncos 1 at Saskatoon Blades 4 – Status: Final
Saturday, January 15, 2022 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Swift Current 0 1 0 – 1
Saskatoon 2 0 2 – 4
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 20 (Molendyk, Robins), 6:41. 2, Saskatoon, Robins 18 (De La Gorgendiere), 15:53 (PP). Penalties-Filmon Sc (hooking), 7:27; Weigel Sc (charging), 14:31; Wright Sas (high sticking), 19:00.
2nd Period-3, Swift Current, Wyrostok 8 (Raphael Pelletier), 4:21 (PP). Penalties-Molendyk Sas (holding), 4:07; Wyrostok Sc (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:52; Sidorov Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:52; Robins Sas (high sticking), 7:47; Davies Sc (slashing), 13:17; De La Gorgendiere Sas (slashing), 18:07.
3rd Period-4, Saskatoon, Watterodt 1 (Shugrue), 17:09. 5, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 21 (Robins), 19:56 (SH EN). Penalties-Bettahar Sc (interference), 12:27; De La Gorgendiere Sas (hooking), 18:07.
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 10-12-7-29. Saskatoon 10-9-6-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 1 / 5; Saskatoon 1 / 4.
Goalies-Swift Current, Poulter 11-10-3-1 (24 shots-21 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 16-12-1-1 (29 shots-28 saves).
A-2,207
Referees-Bob Millette (61), Bryce Sebastian (64).
Linesmen-Riley Carriere (72), Brayden Glynn (96).
