The Saskatoon Blades scored first and never trailed, but they were pushed by the Swift Current Broncos before claiming a 5-3 triumph Wednesday night in front of 2,770 fans at SaskTel Centre.
It was the Bridge City Bunch’s sixth consecutive victory and 43rd overall for the season, ensuring a third seed position in the W-H-L’s Eastern Conference for the first round of the playoffs. The Blue and Gold jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the mid-point of the second period, but Swift Current didn’t let up. They battled to within one goal of the Blades on two different occasions in the contest and out-shot Saskatoon 39-28 overall. Josh Pillar (pictured) scored twice for the Bridge City Bunch, his first goals since November 25, breaking a nine-game goal-less drought that didn’t include the 31 games he missed with a Lower Body injury. The 20-year-old Warman product’s goals were the game-opening and game-winning markers. Jayden Wiens had a goal and an assist with Tanner Molendyk and Brandon Lisowsky adding singles – Lisowsky’s tally into an empty net in the final minute of the third period. Captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere chipped in a pair of helpers while Ethan Chadwick won his personal fifth consecutive game in goal, making 36 saves in the process. The 43-13-5 Blue and Gold begin a home-and-home series with the arch-rival Raiders Friday in Prince Albert before hosting the Raiders Sunday afternoon. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L, the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast and Post-Game Show interviews with Blades head coach Brennan Sonne plus forwards Wiens and Vaughn Watterodt…..
Swift Current Broncos 3 at Saskatoon Blades 5 – Status: Final
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Swift Current 0 2 1 – 3
Saskatoon 1 3 1 – 5
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Pillar 5 (Watterodt, Wright), 1:26. Penalties-Filmon Sc (interference), 10:13.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Wiens 16 (De La Gorgendiere, Wong), 3:57 (PP). 3, Saskatoon, Molendyk 8 7:33. 4, Swift Current, Caswell 8 (Lewis), 11:06. 5, Swift Current, Filmon 42 (Hvidston, Mistelbacher), 12:44. 6, Saskatoon, Pillar 6 (Wiens, De La Gorgendiere), 19:43. Penalties-Ward Sc (holding), 0:23; Pickering Sc (slashing), 2:50; Ward Sc (tripping), 5:13; Chadwick Sas (delay of game), 5:22; Eger Sc (high sticking), 16:13; Hansen Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 16:13; Davies Sc (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00.
3rd Period-7, Swift Current, Filmon 43 (Englot, Hvidston), 3:22 (PP). 8, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 32 (Sidorov), 19:05 (EN). Penalties-Calvert Sas (hooking), 2:44.
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 9-14-16-39. Saskatoon 8-14-6-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 1 / 2; Saskatoon 1 / 5.
Goalies-Swift Current, Dyck 12-20-1-0 (27 shots-23 saves). Saskatoon, Chadwick 21-8-1-1 (39 shots-36 saves).
A-2,770
Referees-Adam Forbes (62), Mike Langin (67).
Linesmen-Brayden Glynn (96), Aiden Penner (109).
