The Winnipeg ICE are back where they were for most of the first half of the 2021-22 season, thanks in large part to two guys who weren’t with them to start the campaign.
Forwards Jack Finley and Chase Wheatcroft scored pivotal goals Wednesday as Winnipeg doubled the Saskatoon Blades 4-2, boosting the ICE into sole possession of first place in the W-H-L’s Eastern Conference. Finley, who was acquired from Spokane in December, opened the scoring and Wheatcroft, picked up from Lethbridge before the mid-January trade deadline, tallied, what turned out to be, the winning goal early in the third period as Winnipeg won their ninth straight game and upped their consecutive game run of earning at least one point in the standings to 13 (11-0-2). The ICE have 95 points from their 45-9-5 record, two more than the Edmonton Oil Kings with Winnipeg still holding a game in hand. As for the Bridge City Bunch, their Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot is still four points over either Prince Albert or Regina heading into the fourth-last weekend of the regular season. They are also still three points behind Moose Jaw for fourth place in the Conference standings, with just one game in hand on the Warriors. The teams meet twice in the next eight days. Tristen Robins and Tyler Parr scored for the Blue and Gold, who were only out-shot 16-14 over the final two periods. But, the Blades weren’t very good in the opening frame, falling behind 2-0 while being out-shot 13-4. Saskatoon puts their 33-22-4 record on the line Friday against Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats. Game time is 7 o’clock with the broadcast beginning at 6:30 on CJWW. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L and Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne and Parr…..
Winnipeg ICE 4 at Saskatoon Blades 2 – Status: Final
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Winnipeg 2 0 2 – 4
Saskatoon 0 1 1 – 2
1st Period-1, Winnipeg, Finley 21 (Pederson, McClennon), 9:56. 2, Winnipeg, Smallwood 23 (Benson, Lambos), 17:50. Penalties-Watterodt Sas (interference), 2:22; Woo Wpg (interference), 18:22.
2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Robins 31 (Crnkovic, Schneider), 12:46. Penalties-Lambos Wpg (interference), 1:26; Finley Wpg (roughing), 14:26; Shugrue Sas (roughing), 14:26; served by Segafredo Wpg (too many men), 18:44.
3rd Period-4, Winnipeg, Wheatcroft 13 (Harmacy, Muir), 2:06. 5, Saskatoon, Parr 3 (Watterodt), 8:05. 6, Winnipeg, Orzeck 6 (Lambos), 19:34 (EN). Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Winnipeg 13-7-9-29. Saskatoon 4-8-6-18.
Power Play Opportunities-Winnipeg 0 / 1; Saskatoon 0 / 3.
Goalies-Winnipeg, Hauser 26-2-1-0 (18 shots-16 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 27-19-3-1 (28 shots-25 saves).
A-2,808
Referees-Troy Murray (34), Bryce Sebastian (64).
Linesmen-Brayden Glynn (96), Aiden Penner (109).
