He may be diminutive in size, but Kyle Crnkovic (pictured) came up large for the Saskatoon Blades Wednesday night in a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen at SaskTel Centre.
The 19-year-old left winger scored three times, including the game-winning goal with 2:49 remaining in the third period to snap a 2-2 tie, as the Bridge City Bunch came back from a 2-1 deficit after two periods to win on the 34th anniversary of the Blue and Gold’s first home game at SaskTel Centre, then known as Saskatchewan Place, on February 9, 1988. Crnkovic’s first goal was the 4,409th goal scored in the franchise’s second home rink, surpassing the 4,408 goals scored in 802 home games at the long-departed Saskatoon Arena. Wednesday was regular season home game 1,178 at SaskTel Centre. Crnkovic’s second hat-trick of the season was achieved with an empty net goal with less than a minute to play as the Blades not only improved their season record to 24-16-2, but ended a four-game, head-to-head, losing streak against Calgary and a six-game winless run on home ice against the Hitmen that dated back to September 30, 2017. Defenceman Rhett Rhinehart had the other goal for Saskatoon, tying the score at 2-2 with just over six minutes to go in the third period on a power play. Nolan Maier reached the 20-win mark for the fourth time in his Bridge City Bunch career as he stopped 30 of 32 shots. The Blue and Gold return to action on home ice Friday when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Game time is 7 p.m. with the broadcast beginning at 6:30 on CJWW. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L as well as Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Crnkovic and Rhinehart…..
Calgary Hitmen 2 at Saskatoon Blades 4 – Status: Final
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Calgary 1 1 0 – 2
Saskatoon 1 0 3 – 4
1st Period-1, Calgary, Funk 15 (Fiddler-Schultz), 6:12. 2, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 27 (De La Gorgendiere, Parr), 14:52. Penalties-Yatsyshin Cgy (hooking), 3:06.
2nd Period-3, Calgary, Zimmerman 10 (Funk, Allan), 11:58. Penalties-Crnkovic Sas (slashing), 8:52; Rhinehart Sas (checking to the head), 9:39; Galloway Cgy (holding), 11:47; Allan Cgy (high sticking), 19:19.
3rd Period-4, Saskatoon, Rhinehart 6 (Wong), 13:33 (PP). 5, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 28 (Rhinehart), 17:11. 6, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 29 (Robins), 19:01 (EN). Penalties-Calvert Sas (delay of game), 3:43; Patterson Cgy (cross checking), 11:47.
Shots on Goal-Calgary 10-14-8-32. Saskatoon 9-13-11-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Calgary 0 / 3; Saskatoon 1 / 4.
Goalies-Calgary, Buenaventura 2-2-3-1 (32 shots-29 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 20-13-1-1 (32 shots-30 saves).
A-2,130
Referees-Bryce Sebastian (64), Bob Millette (61).
Linesmen-Ty Skene, Devan Thiessen (94).
