The Saskatoon Blades used hockey’s version of the “Rope-a-Dope” to drill the Edmonton Oil Kings 6-1 Friday night at SaskTel Centre.
Coming in with a three-game winning streak and winning four of five games on a just-completed home-stand, the O-Ks out-shot the Bridge City Bunch 39-16 and win 40 of 67 faceoffs. But, the C-H-L’s second-ranked team in the Major Junior Top 10 list also took nine of 13 minor penalties in front of 2,407 fans and the Blue and Gold took advantage. While Nolan Maier (pictured) stopped 38 shots, the Blades scored on three of their first five man advantages and broke open a 2-1 lead late in the second period with three goals in a 2:55 span on the way to winning for the sixth time in their last seven games. Overage defenceman Rhett Rhinehart opened the scoring, putting an end to Sebastian Cossa’s shutout streak at 134:37. The Detroit Red Wings first round draft pick was lifted after two periods after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Jayden Wiens, Kyle Crnkovic and Aidan De La Gorgendiere connected on the power play while Kyren Gronick and Tyler Parr also found the back of the net as Saskatoon improved their record to 23-15-2. Crnkovic and De La Gorgendiere added two assists each while Tristen Robins chipped in with three helpers. Crnkovic extended his lead atop the W-H-L scoring list with 63. St. Louis Blues first round draft selection Jake Neighbours spoiled Maier’s shutout bid in the second period. Edmonton had 13 of their 20 players dressed aged 19 or 20 with the average age of their 20-man roster at 18.5 compared to the Blue and Gold at 17.8. The Bridge City Bunch ended up 3-for-7 on the power play and have scored on the man advantage in nine of their last 10 games, going 22-for-47 in that time. The Blades are right back on home ice Saturday when they entertain the Red Deer Rebels. Game time is 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre with the broadcast on CJWW beginning at 6:30. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L as well as Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Maier and Robins…
Edmonton Oil Kings 1 at Saskatoon Blades 6 – Status: Final
Friday, February 4, 2022 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Edmonton 0 1 0 – 1
Saskatoon 2 3 1 – 6
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Rhinehart 5 (Wright, Crnkovic), 10:11. 2, Saskatoon, Wiens 15 (Crnkovic, Robins), 18:19 (PP). Penalties-Dylan Guenther Edm (roughing), 11:23; Sourdif Edm (tripping), 16:58.
2nd Period-3, Edmonton, Jake Neighbours 11 (Jakub Demek, Josh Williams), 6:24. 4, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 26 (De La Gorgendiere, Robins), 16:36 (PP). 5, Saskatoon, Gronick 6 (Watterodt, Wiens), 17:48. 6, Saskatoon, De La Gorgendiere 4 (Robins, Lisowsky), 19:30 (PP). Penalties-Kubicek Edm (roughing), 6:56; Robins Sas (roughing), 6:56; Rhinehart Sas (tripping), 7:55; Jake Neighbours Edm (interference), 10:56; Kubicek Edm (interference), 16:31; Sourdif Edm (cross checking), 19:21; Rhinehart Sas (hooking), 19:56.
3rd Period-7, Saskatoon, Parr 2 (De La Gorgendiere), 11:32. Penalties-Logan Dowhaniuk Edm (slashing), 4:30; Jake Neighbours Edm (unsportsmanlike cnd., roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 14:45; Watterodt Sas (roughing), 14:45.
Shots on Goal-Edmonton 16-10-13-39. Saskatoon 6-9-1-16.
Power Play Opportunities-Edmonton 0 / 2; Saskatoon 3 / 7.
Goalies-Edmonton, Cossa 21-6-2-1 (15 shots-10 saves); Hay 8-4-0-0 (1 shots-0 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 19-13-1-1 (39 shots-38 saves).
A-2,407
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Bryce Sebastian (64).
Linesmen-Tanner McGregor (55), Andrew Sawatsky (123).
