The Saskatoon Blades didn’t let a goal on the game’s first shot keep them from achieving their goals for Saturday night…storming back for an 8-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos.
The Bridge City Bunch responded to former team-mate Matej Toman’s tally just 36 seconds into the game by notching three markers in the first period, two in the middle frame and three more in the final stanza while out-shooting Speedy Creek 54-18. The 54 shots were a season high, the victory was the 30th of the season…the third straight season for the Blue and Gold winning at least 30 games…and it completed a four-game sweep of the season series of the Broncos with the Blades out-scoring Swift Current 26-7.
More importantly, Saskatoon got the two points in the standings, improving their record to 30-22-5 for 65 points, two behind third place Brandon and four back of second place Winnipeg in the East Division. Leading Prince Albert is eight points up on the Bridge City Bunch with the teams meeting next weekend in a home-and-home series. The Blades have a Magic Number of five points to clinch a second straight playoff spot.
Eight different members of the Blue and Gold had multi-point games while another six Saskatoon skaters were held off the scoresheet. Leading the way was defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere…on his 18th birthday…with four assists, Martin Fasko-Rudas had two goals and an assist, captain Chase Wouters also scored twice, defencemen Radek Kucerik and Nolan Kneen each chipped in with a pair of helpers while Alex Morozoff (pictured), Tristen Robins and Caiden Daley all had a goal and an assist. For Morozoff and Daley, they have each scored a goal in three straight games. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Swift Current Broncos 1 at Saskatoon Blades 8 – Status: Final
Saturday, February 22, 2020 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Swift Current 1 0 0 – 1
Saskatoon 3 2 3 – 8
1st Period-1, Swift Current, Toman 6 (Jerome), 0:36. 2, Saskatoon, Wouters 24 (Morozoff, Fasko-Rudas), 4:04. 3, Saskatoon, Morozoff 9 (De La Gorgendiere, Daley), 10:26. 4, Saskatoon, Huber 14 (Kneen, De La Gorgendiere), 13:53 (PP). Penalties-Nagy Sc (hooking), 7:25; served by Saleski Sc (too many men), 12:45; Saleski Sc (interference), 16:49.
2nd Period-5, Saskatoon, Fasko-Rudas 12 (Rhinehart, Kucerik), 5:55. 6, Saskatoon, Wouters 25 (Walford), 15:11 (PP). Penalties-Kneen Sas (interference), 3:02; McGinley Sc (holding), 4:07; Crnkovic Sas (10-minute misconduct), 4:32; Wouters Sas (tripping), 4:32; Bulych Sc (interference), 13:01; Sambrook Sc (major-check/behind, game misconduct), 14:21.
3rd Period-7, Saskatoon, Robins 29 (Kneen, De La Gorgendiere), 6:06. 8, Saskatoon, Daley 6 (Kucerik, McKay), 7:51. 9, Saskatoon, Fasko-Rudas 13 (Robins, De La Gorgendiere), 19:26. Penalties-Smithies Sc (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 0:37; Robins Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 0:37.
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 6-5-7-18. Saskatoon 19-14-21-54.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 0 / 2; Saskatoon 2 / 5.
Goalies-Swift Current, Poulter 9-28-1-2 (54 shots-46 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 18-17-1-3 (18 shots-17 saves).
A-4,116
Referees-Bob Millette (61), Steve Papp (17).
Linesmen-Riley Carriere (72), Andrew Sawatsky (123).
