It’s my Parting Shot for Part 2 of my two-part W-H-L Conference final preview with The Fearless Predictor, also known as a deepish dive into the Blades-Moose Jaw Eastern marquis match-up…..
It’s a “marquis match-up” because these are the two teams that declared themselves to be “all-in” to try and win a first-ever league championship early into this season. Saskatoon acquired eight players and two draft picks for 16 draft picks and six players in eight separate trades. The Warriors, on the other hand, acquired six players and five draft picks for 17 draft picks and six players in eight separate trades. The general managers for both teams looked at their rosters and decided their respective core group of players deserved to have a shot at playing for a title.
Unfortunately, one of these teams isn’t going to realize that dream and/or goal. The Bridge City Bunch have been a franchise for 60 years, the last 58 in major junior hockey, while the Warriors’ franchise has been around since 1980 – moving from Winnipeg to Moose Jaw in 1983. Neither franchise has hoisted an Ed Chynoweth Cup!
To me, this is a battle of which team defends better. The Blue and Gold posted the best defensive record in the regular-season and have a significantly better goals against than the Warriors thus far in the post-season. The Blades have allowed 18 goals in nine games, Moose Jaw has surrendered 30 goals in nine games. But, the Warriors have scored 47 goals to 42 for Saskatoon, with 15 of the Bridge City Bunch’s tallies coming in the last two games against Red Deer against a Rebels’ affiliate goaltender.
Moose Jaw owned the best regular-season power play in the W-H-L while the Blue and Gold had the best penalty kill in the loop, but neither has lived to that, thus far, in the playoffs! The Warriors have three, first round N-H-L draft picks on their roster and Seattle’s second rounder from 2022, who just happened to be the league’s regular-season scoring leader in Jagger Firkus. The Blades have a first rounder in Tanner Molendyk, a second round pick in Fraser Minten and a third rounder in Egor Sidorov!
In other words, there’s not a lot to choose from between two “stacked” squads. But, I’m going with Saskatoon in seven games! On Wednesday, I said Portland in six over Prince George, meaning I am staying true to my pre-playoffs prediction of a Blades-Winterhawks’ final. We shall see!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!…..
