The Saskatoon Blades showed they can “hang” with the Winnipeg ICE, but they also learned that they have some areas to clean up ahead of Saturday’s re-match at SaskTel Centre after the visitors doubled the Bridge City Bunch 6-3 Friday night.
The C-H-L’s top-ranked won their eighth consecutive road game by taking advantage of their opportunities, making the Blue and Gold pay for their mistakes and riding solid goaltending. Six different players scored as Winnipeg improved to 22-2-0 for the season, despite being out-shot 33-20 and allowing two power play goals to be scored by the Blades. However, the ICE also tallied twice on the man advantage and goaltender Daniel Hauser improved his personal record to 16-0-0 with 30 saves. The Saskatoon line of Justin Lies, Josh Pillar (pictured) and Conner Roulette each accounted for the goal-scoring in front of 3,003 fans. A four-game winning streak was snapped with the loss for the Bridge City Bunch and their record dropped to 15-5-0. Saturday’s game is “Pride Night” with the Blue and Gold wearing special jerseys for the occasion. Game time is 7 o’clock with CJWW’s broadcast starting at 6:45 p.m. Following is the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne and Pillar plus the official game summary, courtesy the W-H-L…..
Winnipeg ICE 6 at Saskatoon Blades 3 – Status: Final
Friday, November 25, 2022 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Winnipeg 1 2 3 – 6
Saskatoon 0 1 2 – 3
1st Period-1, Winnipeg, Sward 1 (Pederson, McClennon), 18:37. Penalties-Molendyk Sas (tripping), 3:02; Harmacy Wpg (roughing), 7:04; McClennon Wpg (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 7:04; Watterodt Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 7:04; Lies Sas (tripping), 10:57.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Roulette 8 (Watterodt, Saunderson), 4:07. 3, Winnipeg, Geekie 13 (Sward), 7:37. 4, Winnipeg, Zloty 6 (McClennon), 17:32 (PP). Penalties-Medernach Wpg (tripping), 1:28; served by Medernach Wpg (too many men), 13:50; Pillar Sas (hooking), 17:14.
3rd Period-5, Winnipeg, Nash 11 (Geekie), 4:16. 6, Saskatoon, Pillar 4 (Wright, Lies), 5:50 (PP). 7, Saskatoon, Lies 4 (Pillar, Molendyk), 11:20 (PP). 8, Winnipeg, Pederson 13 (Zloty, McClennon), 14:24 (PP). 9, Winnipeg, Shilo 4 (Nash, Zloty), 19:29 (EN). Penalties-McClennon Wpg (tripping), 4:55; Friesen Wpg (holding), 7:12; Sward Wpg (kneeing), 10:44; Molendyk Sas (holding), 14:18.
Shots on Goal-Winnipeg 10-4-6-20. Saskatoon 9-12-12-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Winnipeg 2 / 4; Saskatoon 2 / 6.
Goalies-Winnipeg, Hauser 16-0-0-0 (33 shots-30 saves). Saskatoon, Elliott 8-2-0-0 (19 shots-14 saves).
A-3,003
Referees-Bob Millette (61), Bryce Sebastian (64).
Linesmen-Tanner McGregor (55), Levi Schutz (110).
