The Saskatoon Blades scored more than three goals in a game for the second time in seven W-H-L outings Sunday.
But, for the second such occasion, they gave up more goals falling 5-4 in a shootout to visiting Brandon at SaskTel Centre. The Bridge City Bunch Blades let a two-goal lead slip away in the final 70 seconds of regulation time, allowing the Wheat Kings to skate away with an extra point in the standings. The Blue and Gold are now 0-2-1 at home…3-3-1 overall. Back on September 27, the Blades scored six goals at home against Winnipeg, but allowed the ICE to score seven for a victory.
“It (stings) for sure,” admitted Saskatoon assistant coach Ryan Keller after the contest. “It’s an upset group (in the dressing room) and it’ll sting for sure. We felt we deserved two points, but you’ve got to learn from that and understand that the game’s not over until it’s over and you’ve got to play the situation you’re in.
“It’s better to learn these lessons now than in February or March.”
Playing their third game in less than 72 hours, the Wheaties rallied to force overtime on Ridly Greig’s second goal of the game with 1:05 remaining and captain Connor Gutenberg’s point shot through a screen with 18 seconds left in regulation time in front of 2,776 surprised fans. Brandon improved to 3-4-0 for the season with the win.
The Bridge City Bunch got goals from Tristen Robins, Zach Huber, Kyle Crnkovic and Riley McKay. Once again, the result was a one-goal margin, extending the Blue and Gold’s season-long streak of games decided by a single tally…win or lose.
The Blades return to action Wednesday when they welcome the defending Western Conference-champion Vancouver Giants to SaskTel Centre at 7 o’clock. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Brandon Wheat Kings 5 (SO) at Saskatoon Blades 4 – Status: Final SO
Sunday, October 6, 2019 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Brandon 1 1 2 0 – 5
Saskatoon 0 2 2 0 – 4
1st Period-1, Brandon, McCallum 2 11:06. Penalties-served by Kjemhus Sas (too many men), 0:44; Thorpe Bdn (holding), 3:04; served by Plaschewsky Sas (too many men), 9:02; Schmidt Sas (inter. on goaltender), 11:15; McCallum Bdn (tripping), 15:19.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Robins 2 (Florchuk, Crnkovic), 6:27. 3, Saskatoon, Huber 2 (Dach), 15:04. 4, Brandon, Greig 1 (Reinhardt, Wytinck), 18:18. Penalties-Zayat Bdn (roughing), 8:07; Dach Sas (roughing), 8:07.
3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 4 (Kaddoura), 9:26. 6, Saskatoon, McKay 3 (Wouters, McNabb), 15:42. 7, Brandon, Greig 2 (Ritchie, McCallum), 18:55. 8, Brandon, Gutenberg 1 (Schneider, McCartney), 19:42. Penalties-Huber Sas (tripping), 6:32.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout – Brandon 2 (Greig G, Burzan G), Saskatoon 0 (Crnkovic NG, Florchuk NG).
Shots on Goal-Brandon 8-9-11-5-1-34. Saskatoon 10-10-10-0-0-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Brandon 0 / 4; Saskatoon 0 / 2.
Goalies-Brandon, Patera 3-2-0-0 (30 shots-26 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 2-3-0-1 (33 shots-29 saves).
A-2,776
Referees-Chris Crich (20), Austin Weisgerber (39).
Linesmen-Aiden Penner (109), Andrew Sawatsky (123).
