After losing in Red Deer and Edmonton the previous two nights, Kyle Crnkovic (pictured) and Tristen Robins took over in the third period Sunday in Calgary to propel the Saskatoon Blades to a 4-1 victory over the Hitmen.
Robins’ power play goal at 9:17 of the third frame snapped a 1-1 tie. Crnkovic then closed out the scoring with an even strength and short-handed tally for the 27-18-2 Bridge City Bunch. Add in an assist for the left winger from nearby Chestermere, Alberta, Crnkovic’s three-point night was capped by the short-handed marker that made him the 46th player in Blue and Gold franchise history to reach 200 career points. The 20-year-old Crnkovic also regained the W-H-L points scoring lead with 73, including 32 goals. Trevor Wong opened the scoring for the Blades while Zac Funk’s second period power play goal was the only puck to beat Ethan Chadwick in goal for Saskatoon. The loss was the seventh-in-a-row for 18-22-7 Calgary, who were out-shot 35-24. The Bridge City Bunch now head along the Trans-Canada Highway for games Wednesday and Friday in Brandon. Following is the game summary courtesy the W-H-L and Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interview with head coach Brennan Sonne…..
Saskatoon Blades 4 at Calgary Hitmen 1 – Status: Final
Sunday, February 20, 2022 – Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, AB
Saskatoon 1 0 3 – 4
Calgary 0 1 0 – 1
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Wong 10 (Lisowsky), 9:14. Penalties-Stevenson Cgy (tripping), 1:12; Watterodt Sas (major-fighting), 13:46; Allan Cgy (major-fighting), 13:46; Zimmerman Cgy (face off violation), 16:37; Volotovskii Sas (hooking), 19:29.
2nd Period-2, Calgary, Funk 16 (Fiddler-Schultz, Tschigerl), 5:30 (PP). Penalties-Gronick Sas (tripping), 4:51; Fiddler-Schultz Cgy (cross checking), 10:00; Lisowsky Sas (delay of game), 12:44.
3rd Period-3, Saskatoon, Robins 22 (Molendyk, Crnkovic), 9:17 (PP). 4, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 31 (Robins, Sidorov), 12:24. 5, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 32 14:42 (SH). Penalties-Patterson Cgy (holding), 1:32; Galloway Cgy (interference), 7:37; Schneider Sas (tripping), 13:31; Lisowsky Sas (slashing), 17:43; Quiring Cgy (slashing), 17:43.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 11-11-13-35. Calgary 7-9-8-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 1 / 5; Calgary 1 / 4.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Chadwick 4-3-0-0 (24 shots-23 saves). Calgary, Buenaventura 2-7-3-1 (35 shots-31 saves).
A-5,737
Referees-Chris Crich (20), Mark Pearce (5).
Linesmen-Aidan Henderson (78), Logan Parsons (140).
