The Saskatoon Blades put a bow on the 2019 pre-season, trimming the Winnipeg ICE 6-2 Saturday at SaskTel Centre.
A combination of goaltending, special teams and deja vu allowed the Bridge City Bunch to complete the exhibition campaign with a 4-0-1 record.
Rookie goaltender Koen MacInnes (pictured) shone with 36 saves, the Blue and Gold scored on three of six power play chances and added a short-handed goal while, as they did in Friday’s 4-3 victory over the ICE, Saskatoon survived a strong start by Winnipeg to open the scoring, then get out to a good-sized lead.
Cyle McNabb scored two of the power play goals for the Blades with Riley McKay getting the other. Randen Schmidt notched the short-handed tally with defencemen Nolan Kneen and Parker Malchuk finding the mark as well. McKay and Malchuk each added an assist to their goal while Kyle Crnkovic added a pair of helpers to give him a team-leading nine points in the exhibition season.
Connor McClennon and Jakin Smallwood replied for the ICE, who finish the pre-season 1-3-0. Winnipeg out-shot the Bridge City Bunch 38-24, but were thwarted on their first six power play chances before Smallwood connected for the final goal of the night.
The regular-season starts next weekend with the Blue and Gold meeting the arch-rival Raiders in a home-and-home series…Friday in Prince Albert and Saturday at SaskTel Centre. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Winnipeg ICE 2 at Saskatoon Blades 6 – Status: Final
Saturday, September 14, 2019 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Winnipeg 1 0 1 – 2
Saskatoon 2 2 2 – 6
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, McNabb 1 (Crnkovic, Lisowsky), 7:02 (PP). 2, Winnipeg, McClennon 2 16:19. 3, Saskatoon, Kneen 2 17:11. Penalties-Kneen Sas (cross checking), 0:54; Johnson Wpg (tripping), 6:16; Pederson Wpg (roughing), 18:42.
2nd Period-4, Saskatoon, Malchuk 1 (McKay, Robins), 6:47. 5, Saskatoon, McKay 1 (Malchuk, Wright), 8:40 (PP). Penalties-Kneen Sas (slashing), 1:14; Pederson Wpg (hooking), 4:46; McClennon Wpg (tripping), 8:22; Ladyman Wpg (interference), 15:47; McNabb Sas (high sticking), 16:58.
3rd Period-6, Saskatoon, Schmidt 1 (Dach), 2:36 (SH). 7, Saskatoon, McNabb 2 (Crnkovic, De La Gorgendiere), 4:11 (PP). 8, Winnipeg, Smallwood 2 (McClennon, Lambos), 13:44 (PP). Penalties-Kneen Sas (slashing), 1:21; Johnson Wpg (cross checking), 3:42; De La Gorgendiere Sas (cross checking), 5:48; De La Gorgendiere Sas (high sticking, high sticking), 10:11.
Shots on Goal-Winnipeg 11-11-16-38. Saskatoon 7-11-6-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Winnipeg 1 / 7; Saskatoon 3 / 6.
Goalies-Winnipeg, Alexander 0-2-0-0 (18 shots-14 saves); Gurski 1-1-0-0 (6 shots-4 saves). Saskatoon, MacInnes 1-0-1-0 (38 shots-36 saves).
A-
Referees-Brian McDonald, Bob Millette (61).
Linesmen- .
