Make it a third time in as many regular-season games to start the new season involving the Saskatoon Blades where the team that had the better special teams numbers ended up winning the game. Fortunately for the Bridge City Bunch, they were the team that owned that advantage Saturday night in a 6-2 triumph over the Wheat Kings in Brandon.
The Blue and Gold scored on the power play and short-handed to open up a 2-0 lead that the Wheaties couldn’t overcome. The first four Blades’ goals all came off special teams as Tanner Molendyk, Brandon Lisowsky and Kyle Crnkovic (pictured) scored on Saskatoon’s first three power play chances while Crnkovic added a short-handed tally. Those goals sandwiched Brandon man advantage scores from Nate Danielson and Ridly Greig as the Bridge City Bunch led 4-2 after two periods. Brendan Lee and Rhett Rhinehart added even-strength markers in the third frame. In all, the Blades were 3-for-4 on the power play while Brandon was 2-for-6 and allowed a short-handed goal. Molendyk’s game-opening tally was the first career W-H-L goal for the 2020 first round pick in the Prospects Draft. He added an assist for a multi-point game. So did Lee, whose goal was his first with the Blue and Gold. Tristen Robins assisted on the first three Blades’ goals. Crnkovic and Rhinehart also had three-point games with one and two helpers, respectively. Saskatoon out-shot the Wheat Kings 46-33 in improving their season record to 2-1-0 while the Wheaties dropped to 1-3-0. The same teams play Wednesday at SaskTel Centre, beginning at 7 o’clock with CJWW’s broadcast beginning at 6:30. Following is the game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..
Saskatoon Blades 6 at Brandon Wheat Kings 2 – Status: Final
Saturday, October 9, 2021 – Westoba Place – Brandon, MB
Saskatoon 2 2 2 – 6
Brandon 1 1 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Molendyk 1 (Robins, Lee), 4:56 (PP). 2, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 2 (Robins), 9:04 (SH). 3, Brandon, Danielson 1 (Iorio), 19:11 (PP). Penalties-Greig Bdn (holding), 4:06; Molendyk Sas (tripping), 8:12; Paulhus Sas (inter. on goaltender), 16:36; Volotovskii Sas (hooking), 18:50; Robins Sas (roughing), 19:53; Danielson Bdn (roughing), 19:53; Wiens Sas (major-fighting), 20:00; Salame Bdn (major-fighting), 20:00.
2nd Period-4, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 2 (Robins, Crnkovic), 7:26 (PP). 5, Brandon, Greig 3 (Danielson, Iorio), 9:43 (PP). 6, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 3 (Rhinehart, Sidorov), 18:46 (PP). Penalties-Greig Bdn (kneeing), 6:45; Wiens Sas (major-inter. on goaltender, game misconduct), 8:33; Rhinehart Sas (cross checking), 9:05; Mantei Bdn (interference), 17:14.
3rd Period-7, Saskatoon, Lee 1 (Molendyk, Rhinehart), 10:00. 8, Saskatoon, Rhinehart 1 14:02. Penalties-Danielson Bdn (cross checking), 2:15; Paulhus Sas (interference), 17:55.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 16-13-17-46. Brandon 10-13-10-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 3 / 4; Brandon 2 / 6.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Maier 2-1-0-0 (33 shots-31 saves). Brandon, Kruger 1-3-0-0 (24 shots-21 saves); Bjarnason 0-0-0-0 (22 shots-19 saves).
A-2,205
Referees-Adam Forbes (62), Fraser Lawrence (10).
Linesmen-Andrew Paul (171), Logan Young (179).
