The Saskatoon Blades reached hockey’s version of “the five and dime” Sunday, five straight wins and 10 consecutive home-ice victories, thanks to Evan Gardner’s (pictured) steady to spectacular goaltending in a 3-1 triumph over the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Gardner stopped 33 of 34 shots, including the last 30 after Luke Shipley knotted the game at 1-1 just past the mid-point of the first period. The 17-year-old rookie blocked all 21 shots the Wheaties fired his way in the second period as he recorded his 14th win and the Bridge City Bunch won for the 36th time in 50 games this season. Egor Sidorov scored twice to get to 41 for the season and eclipse his 40 goal output of last season while Vaughan Watterodt added an empty-net tally as Carson Bjarnason in the Brandon goal stopped 32 of 34 shots, but was out-duelled by Gardner in front of 5,388 fans at SaskTel Centre. Blue and Gold captain Trevor Wong assisted on all three Saskatoon goals and now has been in on nine of the 10 Blades’ goals in four games against the Wheat Kings with three goals and six helpers. The season series between the Bridge City Bunch and Wheaties is even at two wins each as the Blue and Gold improved to 36-9-5 overall, 21-1-1 at SaskTel Centre, while Brandon dropped to 24-19-6. The Blades are back in action Tuesday when they entertain the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 7 o’clock at SaskTel Centre with CJWW’s broadcast beginning at 6:45 p.m. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, Post-Game Show comments from head coach Brennan Sonne, Gardner and Watterodt plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..

Brandon Wheat Kings 1 at Saskatoon Blades 3 – Status: Final
Sunday, February 4, 2024 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK

Brandon 1 0 0 – 1
Saskatoon 1 1 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Sidorov 40 (Wright, Wong), 1:16. 2, Brandon, Shipley 7 (Hadland, Flamand), 12:16. Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Sidorov 41 (Wong, Molendyk), 6:29 (PP). Penalties-Roersma Bdn (unsportsmanlike cnd., roughing), 6:19; Babcock Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:19; Saunderson Sas (holding), 13:39; Babcock Sas (delay of game), 15:16; Elick Bdn (roughing), 18:35; Klippenstein Bdn (charging), 18:35; Wong Sas (slashing), 18:35.

3rd Period-4, Saskatoon, Watterodt 8 (Minten, Wong), 19:47 (EN). Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Brandon 6-21-7-34. Saskatoon 11-13-11-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Brandon 0 / 2; Saskatoon 1 / 2.
Goalies-Brandon, Bjarnason 16-10-3-1 (34 shots-32 saves). Saskatoon, Gardner 14-5-0-2 (34 shots-33 saves).
A-5,388
Referees-Troy Murray (34), Bryce Sebastian (64).
Linesmen-Brayden Glynn (96), Justin Primeau (112).