They out-shot the opponent and out-played them for long stretches, but special teams continued to be the undoing of the Saskatoon Blades following a 3-2 setback Saturday night to the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, Washington.
The T-Birds ended a three-game losing streak, in front of a sell-out crowd of 6,143 at the accesso ShoWare Center, by scoring just 25 seconds into the contest; connecting on their first two power play chances; and killing off the Bridge City Bunch’s first three man power advantages. That allowed Seattle, now 7-12-3 for the season, to open up a 3-1 lead after two periods. Try as they might, by out-shooting the Thunderbirds 16-13 in the third frame…and 37-35 overall, the Blue and Gold couldn’t forge a tie and have a chance to win. Nolan Kneen and Matej Toman brought the Blades, now 12-11-2 for the season, twice to within a goal of the lead. Toman’s goal, his first in seven games since being acquired by the Bridge City Bunch from Prince George, came on an early third period power play, ending a streak of 22 man advantages without scoring for the Blue and Gold. Meanwhile, after allowing Everett to score five power play goals on eight chances Friday, the Blades’ penalty kill allowed two SeatSaskatoon finishes up a three games-in-three nights run Sunday by visiting the Portland Winterhawks. The broadcast starts at 6 p.m. with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show on 98-COOL and the play-by-play at 7. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Saskatoon Blades 2 at Seattle Thunderbirds 3 – Status: Final
Saturday, November 23, 2019 – accesso ShoWare Center – Kent, WA
Saskatoon 0 1 1 – 2
Seattle 2 1 0 – 3
1st Period-1, Seattle, Jeri-Leon 8 (Wedman, Bauer), 0:25. 2, Seattle, Kubicek 4 (Kukuca, Bruggen-Cate), 16:13 (PP). Penalties-Kukuca Sea (interference), 0:47; Jeri-Leon Sea (high sticking), 5:12; Wouters Sas (tripping), 14:24.
2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Kneen 5 (Walford, Plaschewsky), 2:54. 4, Seattle, Mount 4 (Bruggen-Cate, Wedman), 8:01 (PP). Penalties-McNelly Sea (cross checking), 3:48; De La Gorgendiere Sas (tripping), 7:32; Kneen Sas (cross checking), 11:55; Wedman Sea (roughing), 11:55; Kjemhus Sas (too many men), 15:48; Bruggen-Cate Sea (slashing), 20:00.
3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, Toman 4 (Florchuk, De La Gorgendiere), 1:16 (PP). Penalties-McKay Sas (charging), 7:52; Kneen Sas (roughing), 10:17; Rybinski Sea (roughing, roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 10:17.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 9-12-16-37. Seattle 12-10-13-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 1 / 5; Seattle 2 / 4.
Goalies-Saskatoon, MacInnes 3-2-0-0 (35 shots-32 saves). Seattle, Lyda 1-4-0-0 (37 shots-35 saves).
A-6,143
Referees-Bobby Jo Love (11), Dexter Rasmussen (25).
Linesmen-Mark Heier (125), Adam Brastad (132).
