Two more firsts that had yet to happen to the Saskatoon Blades thus far this season, rose up and bit them Tuesday in a 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting Calgary Hitmen.
The Hitmen stunned 3,355 fans at SaskTel Centre by rallying from a 2-0 deficit after two periods and handing the Bridge City Bunch a third straight loss. Prior to Tuesday, the Blue and Gold hadn’t lost in 19 games when leading after 40 minutes and they had yet to suffer three consecutive setbacks. Defenceman Grayden Siepmann finished off a rebound 53 seconds into overtime as Calgary improved to 19-11-4 this season and beat the Blades for the first time in three tries. Brandon Lisowsky (pictured) and Vaughn Watterodt, who scored while Saskatoon was short-handed, staked the Bridge City Bunch to a 2-0 lead. Watterodt appeared to give the Blue and Gold a 3-0 lead just past the mid-point of the second period, but a lengthy video review determined the 18-year-old Rosetown product batted the puck into the Hitmen net with a high-stick. That was the turning point in the contest as the Blades saw their record drop to 25-6-2 for the season while a five-game home-ice winning streak also came to an end. Saskatoon is idle until Friday when they visit the Swift Current Broncos for the first time this season. Following is the game summary, the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, plus Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne and Lisowsky…..
Calgary Hitmen 3 (OT) at Saskatoon Blades 2 – Status: Final OT
Tuesday, January 3, 2023 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Calgary 0 0 2 1 – 3
Saskatoon 1 1 0 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 20 14:53. Penalties-Fiddler-Schultz Cgy (boarding), 10:54; Adaszynski Cgy (roughing), 11:19; Lies Sas (roughing), 11:19.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Watterodt 15 10:07 (SH). Penalties-Tschigerl Cgy (holding), 3:40; Hansen Sas (interference), 9:14; Rebman Sas (hooking), 15:18; Hansen Sas (tripping), 17:46.
3rd Period-3, Calgary, Tulk 15 (Adaszynski), 10:19. 4, Calgary, Tschigerl 11 (Funk, Fiddler-Schultz), 15:04. Penalties-Whynott Cgy (slashing), 5:08; Molendyk Sas (interference), 6:40; Gustafson Sas (cross checking), 13:04; Lies Sas (roughing, high sticking), 15:41.
OT Period-5, Calgary, Siepmann 7 (Wright), 0:53. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Calgary 9-10-8-3-30. Saskatoon 18-5-6-1-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Calgary 0 / 7; Saskatoon 0 / 3.
Goalies-Calgary, Buenaventura 9-5-1-0 (30 shots-28 saves). Saskatoon, Elliott 13-2-2-0 (30 shots-27 saves).
A-3,355
Referees-Taylor Burzminski (83), Cameron Fox (30).
Linesmen-Aiden Penner (109), Levi Schutz (110).
