Nolan Maier (pictured) etched his name into the Saskatoon Blades’ record book for a second time when it comes to career franchise goaltending marks following Friday’s 4-0 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Most in the crowd of 2,466 at SaskTel Centre weren’t aware that the 20-year-old Yorkton product’s 26-save clean sheet was his 10th career shutout, moving him alone atop that statistic ahead of Andrei Makarov. Back in April, Maier moved past Tim Cheveldae atop the Bridge City Bunch’s career wins list. His first shutout of the 2021-22 season was his third victory of the campaign and 94th success of his career. Maier got all the offensive support he would need when Trevor Wong opened the scoring just 5:12 into the game. Belarus import forward Egor Sidorov scored his first career W-H-L goal on a first period power play while Kyle Crnkovic notched his fourth and fifth markers of the young season in each of the second and third periods. The second tally came while the Blue and Gold were short-handed, the second time that the 19-year-old Chestermere, Alberta, product has scored while killing a penalty and the third short-handed goal for the Blades as a team. Tristen Robins added three assists for his third consecutive three-point game. The San Jose Sharks’ 2020 second round draft pick leads the W-H-L in helpers and points with nine and 11, respectively. The victory improved Saskatoon’s record to 3-1-1, the three wins and extra time loss coming in the team’s last four games. As for more Blades’ career goaltending records, Maier is within reach of eclipsing Braden Holtby’s marks for games played, minutes played and saves. Saskatoon returns to action Saturday when they visit the Moose Jaw Warriors. CJWW’s broadcast starts at 6:30 with the pre-game show and play-by-play at 7 p.m. Following are CJWW post-game show interviews that Les Lazaruk did with Maier, Crnkovic and head coach Brennan Sonne as well as the game summary, courtesy the Western Hockey League…
Medicine Hat Tigers 0 at Saskatoon Blades 4 – Status: Final
Friday, October 15, 2021 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Medicine Hat 0 0 0 – 0
Saskatoon 2 1 1 – 4
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Wong 2 (Bocharov), 5:12. 2, Saskatoon, Sidorov 1 (De La Gorgendiere, Robins), 15:57 (PP). Penalties-Robins Sas (tripping), 7:41; Van Mulligen Mh (interference), 15:32; Parsons Mh (checking from behind), 19:30.
2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 4 (De La Gorgendiere, Robins), 6:51. Penalties-Svejkovsky Mh (delay of game), 3:46; Baker Mh (boarding), 12:58; Baker Mh (interference), 15:43; mick-NEEL Mh (tripping), 19:49.
3rd Period-4, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 5 (Robins), 5:20 (SH). Penalties-Robins Sas (cross checking), 1:30; served by Elias Sas (too many men), 4:42; Hopwo Mh (roughing), 15:47; Robins Sas (roughing), 15:47.
Shots on Goal-Medicine Hat 5-7-14-26. Saskatoon 11-17-5-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Medicine Hat 0 / 3; Saskatoon 1 / 6.
Goalies-Medicine Hat, Bjorklund 1-3-0-0 (33 shots-29 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 3-1-1-0 (26 shots-26 saves).
A-2,466
Referees-Brayden Arcand (71), Brody McGrath (73).
Linesmen-Riley Carriere (72), Andrew Sawatsky (123).
