By today’s standards, Monday afternoon’s Saskatoon at Brandon contest was a rough-and-tumble affair – that the Blades still won 5-2, upping their winning streak to 11 straight victories.
The teams combined to take 76 minutes in penalties, all but eight of it in a chippy and, at times, nasty second period. The Wheat Kings were assessed 44 of the 76 penalty minutes and the Bridge City Bunch scored on two of six power play chances while killing off all three Wheaties’ man advantages. Fraser Minten broke a 2-2 tie mid-way through the second period on a power play, Alexander Suzdalev (pictured) tallied twice in the third period for insurance while Brandon Lisowsky, on a power play, and Egor Sidorov also found the mark for the 42-9-5 Blue and Gold. Suzdalev added an assist for a three-point game while Sidorov chipped in a helper while veteran, 20-year-old defenceman Charlie Wright recorded his 100th career W-H-L point with an assist on Lisowsky’s tally. The Blades out-shot an opponent for a 26th straight game, 29-25 on this occasion, as they moved closer to three different first place finishes – in the East Division, Eastern Conference and overall W-H-L standings. Saskatoon returns home to host Brandon Friday at 7 o’clock at SaskTel Centre. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interviewed with head coach Brennan Sonne and Suzdalev plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..
Saskatoon Blades 5 at Brandon Wheat Kings 2 – Status: Final
Monday, February 19, 2024 – Westoba Place – Brandon, MB
Saskatoon 2 1 2 – 5
Brandon 1 1 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Sidorov 43 (Wong, Molendyk), 0:49. 2, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 33 (Sidorov, Wright), 6:06 (PP). 3, Brandon, Turko 1 (Jacobson, Elick), 12:04. Penalties-Hadland Bdn (slashing), 5:42; Melnyk Sas (tripping), 6:52; Jacobson Bdn (hooking), 16:52.
2nd Period-4, Brandon, Jacobson 4 (Hyland, Ravndahl), 8:47. 5, Saskatoon, Minten 19 (Siepmann, Suzdalev), 9:31 (PP). Penalties-Flamand Bdn (cross checking), 1:26; Molendyk Sas (hooking), 1:44; Henry Bdn (roughing, cross checking), 6:15; Wong Sas (tripping), 6:56; Henry Bdn (10-minute misconduct), 9:31; Elick Bdn (major-kneeing, game misconduct), 9:57; Calvert Sas (interference), 10:55; Melnyk Sas (roughing), 15:59; Watterodt Sas (major – checking to the head, major-fighting, game misconduct), 15:59; Hadland Bdn (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting), 15:59; Shipley Bdn (roughing), 15:59.
3rd Period-6, Saskatoon, Suzdalev 5 10:43. 7, Saskatoon, Suzdalev 6 19:16 (EN). Penalties-Hansen Sas (high sticking), 19:20.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 13-11-5-29. Brandon 5-11-9-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 2 / 6; Brandon 0 / 3.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Gardner 17-5-0-2 (25 shots-23 saves). Brandon, Bjarnason 19-12-3-1 (28 shots-24 saves).
A-3,740
Referees-Bob Millette (61), Nolan Powell (117).
Linesmen-Nick Grenier (159), Lane Gramiak (157).
