Brennan Sonne put out the challenge and his Saskatoon Blades’ players responded with a bounce-back effort in a 4-1 triumph Saturday in Brandon over the Wheat Kings.
The head coach wasn’t pleased with his team’s competitiveness in Friday’s 5-3 home-ice loss to Everett. A six-and-a-half hour drive, ahead of sketchy weather, gave the Bridge City Bunch time to get ready and they delivered. Rookie forward Jordan Keller (pictured) broke a 1-1 tie on a second period power play, then completed the scoring with a pretty individual effort in the third frame. Captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere, on the man advantage, and Brandon Lisowsky, with his team-leading eighth goal of the season, added the other goals in support of Austin Elliot’s 26-save goaltending. Elliott won his sixth straight decision while the Blue and Gold improved their record to 12-4-0. Only Russian defenceman Andrei Malyavin put a puck past Elliott as Brandon dropped their sixth straight game and fell to 6-9-2 for the season. Special teams was also a key to the Blades’ victory as they scored twice on two power play chances and killed off all four Wheat Kings’ man advantages. Saskatoon has killed off 18 consecutive opposition power plays and 40 of the last 42. The Blades are off until Edmonton pays a Saturday visit to SaskTel Centre. Following are the audio highlights, the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L and Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interview with head coach Sonne…..
Saskatoon Blades 4 at Brandon Wheat Kings 1 – Status: Final
Saturday, November 5, 2022 – Westoba Place – Brandon, MB
Saskatoon 1 1 2 – 4
Brandon 1 0 0 – 1
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, De La Gorgendiere 5 (Roulette), 16:52 (PP). 2, Brandon, Malyavin 3 (Hyland), 19:42. Penalties-Rebman Sas (kneeing), 2:49; Shugrue Sas (charging), 7:28; Roersma Bdn (interference), 9:42; Mannix Bdn (checking from behind), 15:11.
2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Keller 3 (Wong, De La Gorgendiere), 16:37 (PP). Penalties-Harris Bdn (interference), 7:49; Lisowsky Sas (high sticking), 13:38; Henry Bdn (interference), 16:23; Schneider Sas (tripping), 17:24.
3rd Period-4, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 8 1:00. 5, Saskatoon, Keller 4 (Wong, Lisowsky), 6:46. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 12-10-12-34. Brandon 14-7-5-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 2 / 4; Brandon 0 / 4.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Elliott 7-1-0-0 (26 shots-25 saves). Brandon, Bjarnason 6-5-2-0 (34 shots-30 saves).
A-2,831
Referees-Ben Croker, Nolan Powell (117).
Linesmen-Andrew Paul (171), Darrell Surminski (37).
