The Saskatoon Blades took care of business Wednesday and sent several fans home happy with a “freebie!”
The Bridge City Bunch scored three goals in the first period and didn’t let up after that, walloping the Red Deer Rebels 8-1 in front of 2,663 fans at SaskTel Centre. Not only did fans in attendance see the Blue and Gold move nine points ahead of Red Deer in the chase for an Eastern Conference wild-card playoff spot, but they went home with a free ticket for Friday’s home game against Edmonton. Saskatoon, at 19-17-3, moved to within two points of third place Brandon in the East Division and hold a game in hand on the Wheat Kings.
While seven Blades players didn’t show up on the scoresheet, six skaters had multi-point games…led by right winger Tristen Robins with a career high five points. The 18-year-old Brandon product scored the game’s first two goals, then assisted on the next three Saskatoon tallies. Line-mate Kyle Crnkovic had a goal and three helpers, defenceman Nolan Kneen had two goals and an assist plus Zach Huber and Scott Walford had a goal and a helper and Colton Dach closed out the game scoring. Meanwhile, rookie goaltender Koen MacInnes stopped 30 shots in his first start since November 30 as Nolan Maier is sidelined by a Lower Body injury.
The Bridge City Bunch host the Central Division and Eastern Conference-leading Oil Kings Friday at 7. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Red Deer Rebels 1 at Saskatoon Blades 8 – Status: Final
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Red Deer 0 1 0 – 1
Saskatoon 3 3 2 – 8
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Robins 13 (Crnkovic, Wiens), 5:40. 2, Saskatoon, Robins 14 (Crnkovic), 5:53. 3, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 10 (Robins, Walford), 13:35. Penalties-McKay Sas (interference), 6:39; Florchuk Sas (tripping), 15:27; King Rd (roughing), 19:57.
2nd Period-4, Saskatoon, Walford 9 (Wiens, Robins), 4:18. 5, Red Deer, King 8 (Douglas, Bains), 7:26. 6, Saskatoon, Kneen 8 (Robins, Crnkovic), 8:15. 7, Saskatoon, Kneen 9 (McKay, Huber), 12:36 (PP). Penalties-Grubbe Rd (roughing), 10:57; Schmidt Sas (boarding), 13:18.
3rd Period-8, Saskatoon, Huber 12 (Kneen, De La Gorgendiere), 7:50 (PP). 9, Saskatoon, Dach 5 (Wright, Kaddoura), 16:47 (PP). Penalties-Wiebe Rd (interference), 7:31; King Rd (slashing), 8:46; King Rd (roughing), 15:18.
Shots on Goal-Red Deer 14-6-11-31. Saskatoon 11-15-11-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Red Deer 0 / 3; Saskatoon 3 / 5.
Goalies-Red Deer, Fancy 8-10-1-1 (9 shots-6 saves); Anders 6-11-0-2 (28 shots-23 saves). Saskatoon, MacInnes 4-3-0-0 (31 shots-30 saves).
A-2,663
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Austin Weisgerber (131).
Linesmen-Riley Carriere (72), Aiden Penner (109).
