The game definitely didn’t start off on the right foot for the Huskies, falling behind to a 3-0 deficit after two periods of play against the Alberta Pandas, but give them credit for not giving up. The Huskies would storm back to score three goals in just over three minutes in the third period to force a shootout, but would fall short in their comeback attempt after a thrilling eleven rounds with Alberta taking game 4-3 and completing the weekend sweep.
FULL RECAP BELOW…..
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Alberta dominated the opening 10 minutes of the first period, leading the way in shots 7-0 at one point that also included a power play goal coming off the stick of Jadynn Morden, her second of the season to make it 1-0 Alberta after some amazing saves earlier from goaltender Colby Wilson. Saskatchewan registered their first shot during their first power play opportunity, eight minutes into the game, but came up empty on three straight power play chances with only two shots on net. Alberta ended the period with only one shot in the final 10 minutes but controlling the play when they weren’t in the penalty box.
In the opening minute of the second period, the Dogs had their best chance so far—a two-on-one led by Jasper Desmarais, who tried to pass across the crease but was blocked by a Pandas player. This left McKenna Bolger alone in the slot with a quick wrist shot that was turned away by the knob of Pandas goaltender Mackenzie Dojahn’s stick. Moments later, Jessica Patterson would be sent to the box for Bodychecking, giving Alberta their second power play opportunity of the game where once again Jadynn Morden would clean up a rebound in front of Wilson for her second power play goal of the evening doubling Alberta’s lead 2-0.
With just over five minutes left in the second frame, Saskatchewan would get their fourth power play opportunity of the game trying to cut the Panda lead in half, however a combination of a turnover and miscommunication at the blueline, Hayleigh Craig would storm in on a breakaway firing one up and over the glove of Colby Wilson for a short handed goal and increasing the Panda lead to 3-0. Shot advantage was much closer than the first, but the Pandas still led the way 10-6 for a two period total lead 19-8.
The Huskies had their chances early in the third period especially with their fifth power play of the night and although they didn’t find the back of the net, it was their best looking setup of the game at the time. At the halfway point of the period, Saskatchewan began to take control spending more time in the offensive zone than Alberta, and leading on the shot clock 4-1. Just past the 10 minute mark of the period, Jaiyana Nurani would send the puck on net and Jayde Cadieux would poke in the rebound for her first of the season and finally getting Saskatchewan on the board, now 3-1 Alberta.
The goal gave Saskatchewan life as they drew another penalty sending Payton Laumbach to the box for Alberta and giving the Huskies their sixth power play opportunity. This time the man-advantage would finally pay off as Taylor Wilkinson at the point setup Sara Kendall at the right circle and ripped a beautiful shot over the shoulder of Mackenzie Dojahn, cutting the Alberta lead to 3-2.
Just under a minute later, Kendall would find a lose puck all alone in the slot and fire home another perfect shot past Dojahn and just under the bar to tie the game at three, with all three Saskatchewan goals coming in a span of just over three minutes to force overtime. Entering the period down 19-8 on the shot clock, Saskatchewan registered 12 shots in the third period climbing to within four, with Alberta leading 24-20 at the end of regulation.
Overtime would solve nothing, although the best chances would come from Alberta thanks to their fifth power play of the game but Colby Wilson and the Huskies penalty kill came up strong. Overtime didn’t resolve the game either, leading to a shootout that stretched over 11 rounds before determining a winner. Saskatchewan would get two goals at different times from Brooklyn Stevely and Kahlen Wisener, but Alberta would respond both times keeping the shootout alive until finally in the eleventh round, Payton Laumbach would score the shootout winner to give Alberta the 4-3 victory and a weekend sweep over the Dogs.
Saskatchewan gets a point out of the loss dropping their overall record on the season to 0-4-2 and will continue to search for their first win of the season next weekend when they hit the road for Calgary for a pair of games against the Mount Royal Cougars.
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Postgame Media Scrum with Head Coach Steve Kook:
Game Stats (PLAYER)
Sara Kendall (2 Goals)
Jayde Cadieux (1 Goal)
Taylor Wilkinson (2 Assists)
Jaiyana Nurani (1 Assist)
Jasper Desmarais (1 Assist)
Colby Wilson (28 saves on 35 shots)
Game Stats courtesy of Canada West Hockey and HockeyTech:
Alberta 4 (SO) at Saskatchewan 3 – Status: Final SO
Saturday, October 19, 2024 – Merlis Belsher Place
Alberta 1 2 0 0 – 4
Saskatchewan 0 0 3 0 – 3
1st Period-1, Alberta, Morden 2 (Ehmann), 3:39 (PP). Penalties-Williamson Ssk (interference), 2:00; Reich Alb (hooking), 8:03; Bourdeaud’Hui Alb (interference), 11:53; Perrett Alb (tripping), 16:41.
2nd Period-2, Alberta, Morden 3 (Kazeil, Ehmann), 7:30 (PP). 3, Alberta, Craig 1 14:39 (SH). Penalties-Patterson Ssk (bodychecking), 6:07; Williamson Ssk (interference), 9:12; Kieser Alb (hooking), 14:11.
3rd Period-4, Saskatchewan, Cadieux 1 (Nurani), 10:21. 5, Saskatchewan, Kendall 1 (Wilkinson), 12:16 (PP). 6, Saskatchewan, Kendall 2 (Wilkinson, Desmarais), 13:25. Penalties-King Alb (interference), 3:57; Laumbach Alb (slashing), 11:13; King Alb (unsportsmanlike cnd., tripping), 13:47; Bolger Ssk (hooking), 14:05.
1st OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Hill Ssk (tripping), 1:00.
Shootout – Alberta 3 (Ehmann NG, Craig NG, Magnus NG, Willan NG, Laumbach G, Ehmann NG, Kieser NG, Morden NG, Laumbach G, Magnus NG, Laumbach G), Saskatchewan 2 (Kendall NG, Cadieux NG, Zuchotzki NG, Kendall NG, Stevely G, Wilkinson NG, Stevely NG, Kendall NG, Wisener G, Zuchotzki NG, Wisener NG).
Shots on Goal-Alberta 9-10-5-7-1-32. Saskatchewan 2-6-12-1-0-21.
Power Play Opportunities-Alberta 2 / 5; Saskatchewan 1 / 8.
Goalies-Alberta, Dojahn 1-0-0-0 (21 shots-18 saves). Saskatchewan, Wilson 0-2-1-1 (31 shots-28 saves).
A-237
Referees-Kate Sauser, Jessica Coleman.
Linesmen- , Kate Goranson.
NEXT GAME: @ Mount Royal Cougars (5-1-0) on Friday, October 25th at 7 p.m.
