Playing their sixth game in nine nights, the Saskatoon Blades stuck to their positive habits, got 30 saves from Evan Gardner (pictured) and a first W-H-L career goal from defenceman Samuel Barcik on the way to a 2-0 trumph in Spokane Wednesday.

Lukas Hansen added an empty net goal for the Bridge City Bunch, who finished the U-S Division portion of their season-longest seven-game road trip with a 3-2-1 record, upping their overall mark to 18-8-1. The 37 points gives the Blue and Gold a six-point lead over Moose Jaw atop the East Division, three points clear of Medicine Hat in the Eastern Conference standings and a point more than Prince George in the overall league table. The Blades, who finish the swing Friday in Lethbridge, out-shot the 10-11-2 Chiefs 36-30 as 17-year-old rookie goaltender Gardner recorded his second shutout of the season. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interview with head coach Brennan Sonne and the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..

Saskatoon Blades 2 at Spokane Chiefs 0 – Status: Final
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 – Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena – Spokane, WA

Saskatoon 1 0 1 – 2
Spokane 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Barcik 1 (Watterodt, Saunderson), 4:15. Penalties-Roulette Spo (tripping), 6:10.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Weinstein Spo (interference), 9:10; Ekström Spo (high sticking), 13:42; Barcik Sas (hooking), 17:08; Tastad Sas (delay of game), 18:23.

3rd Period-2, Saskatoon, Hansen 8   19:56 (EN). Penalties-Wong Sas (hooking), 4:46; Wright Sas (roughing), 19:56; Cheveldayoff Spo (roughing), 19:56.

Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 14-15-7-36. Spokane 5-15-10-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 0 / 3; Spokane 0 / 3.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Gardner 6-4-0-0 (30 shots-30 saves). Spokane, Cowan 5-7-1-0 (35 shots-34 saves).
A-2,962
Referees-Connor McCracken (54), Trevor Nolan.
Linesmen-Stuart Carruthers (63), Tim Plamondon (113).