The Saskatoon Blades scored on three of their first four man advantages, the difference in the score of Game 5 of the best-of-seven W-H-L Eastern Conference semi-final, as the Bridge City Bunch doubled the visiting Red Deer Rebels 6-3 Friday night.
Blue and Gold captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere (pictured) broke the third tie of the game with 24 seconds remaining in the second period, on a power play, as the Blades won for a third time in these playoffs when facing elimination. The Rebels still lead the set 3-2 with Game 6 Sunday afternoon in Red Deer. Egor Sidorov scored the other two Saskatoon power play goals while Tanner Molendyk opened and closed the scoring while Jayden Wiens added an insurance marker. The Bridge City Bunch opened the scoring for the second time in the series and tallied their first three goals in a first period in the set. The Blue and Gold held leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, only to have the Rebels knot the score each time before De La Gorgendiere put the Blades ahead for good. The six goals was Saskatoon’s largest offensive output of the post-season before 5,908 fans at SaskTel Centre and they out-shot the Rebels 31-17, just the second time in the series they have held that advantage in a game. CJWW has the broadcast of Game 6 on Sunday with the Pre-Game show at 1:45 and the play-by-play at 2 o’clock. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L plus audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast and Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, De La Gorgendiere and Molendyk…..
Red Deer Rebels 3 at Saskatoon Blades 6 – Status: Final
Friday, April 21, 2023 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Red Deer 2 1 0 – 3
Saskatoon 3 1 2 – 6
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Molendyk 2 (Sidorov, Wong), 5:39. 2, Red Deer, Uchacz 7 11:08. 3, Saskatoon, Sidorov 6 (Wong, De La Gorgendiere), 11:59 (PP). 4, Red Deer, Uchacz 8 (Isley, Formanek), 16:58. 5, Saskatoon, Sidorov 7 (De La Gorgendiere, Wong), 18:03 (PP). Penalties-De La Gorgendiere Sas (high sticking), 0:24; served by Pillar Sas (too many men), 6:22; Formanek Rd (boarding), 7:21; Weir Rd (high sticking), 11:45; Mayo Rd (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:33.
2nd Period-6, Red Deer, Ollie Josephson 2 (Carson Birnie, Andrusiak), 1:28. 7, Saskatoon, De La Gorgendiere 2 (Wright, Pillar), 19:35 (PP). Penalties-Saunderson Sas (holding), 2:42; Andrusiak Rd (interference), 17:37.
3rd Period-8, Saskatoon, Wiens 6 (Chiasson, Roulette), 5:41. 9, Saskatoon, Molendyk 3 (Watterodt), 12:34. Penalties-Singer Rd (cross checking), 7:53; Singer Rd (roughing), 17:50; Armstrong Rd (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00; Hansen Sas (cross checking), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Red Deer 8-6-3-17. Saskatoon 7-10-14-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Red Deer 0 / 3; Saskatoon 3 / 6.
Goalies-Red Deer, Kelsey (7 shots-4 saves); Coward (24 shots-21 saves). Saskatoon, Chadwick (17 shots-14 saves).
A-5,908
Referees-Steve Papp (17), Mike Langin (67).
Linesmen-Devan Thiessen (94), Tarrington Wyonzek (137).
