The Saskatoon Blades did something Saturday that they hadn’t done since opening night of this season on the way to doubling the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings 4-2.
The Bridge City Bunch rallied from a 2-0 deficit after two periods for their third straight victory…the second time this season the Blue and Gold had comeback for a win when trailing after 40 minutes. The first time was on September 20 in Prince Albert as the Raiders led 2-1 after two periods, only to have the Blades rally for a 3-2 triumph in overtime.
On Saturday, before 3,184 fans, the Wheaties appeared poised to win for the second time in as many visits to SaskTel Centre this season when Jonny Hooker scored on a first period penalty shot, Ty Thorpe cashed in off a scramble just off the Saskatoon crease in the final minutes of the second frame and Czech import Jiri Patera stopped all 24 shots he faced.
But, the Bridge City Bunch broke through in the third as Majid Kaddoura’s seeing-eye shot from the right wing boards eluded Patera. Cyle McNabb tied the score, pouncing on a rebound of an Aidan De La Gorgendiere point shot and Nolan Kneen’s (pictured) winning shot popped up in the air off a block and carried over top of Patera and in behind him into the net just past the mid-point of the third period. Kyle Crnkovic added insurance into an empty net as the Blue and Gold improved to 11-7-2 for the season. The Blades out-shot 8-12-0 Brandon 37-23…just the fifth time this season that Saskatoon has out-shot the opponent in a game. Goaltender Nolan Maier stopped 21 shots for his ninth win of the season and 68th of his W-H-L and Bridge City Bunch career…tying him for fourth place on the all-time Blue and Gold franchise list with Steven Stanford.
“I just think a couple of bounces went our way and we started playing really simple (hockey),” explained Maier as to what changed between the first two periods and the third. “I think the first couple of periods (weren’t) our best, but they obviously weren’t our worst and we just stuck with it and, eventually, some of the bounces went our way…like that third (goal).”
The Blades are off until Saturday when they welcome the Calgary Hitmen for their first of two visits to SaskTel Centre this season. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Brandon Wheat Kings 2 at Saskatoon Blades 4 – Status: Final
Saturday, November 9, 2019 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Brandon 1 1 0 – 2
Saskatoon 0 0 4 – 4
1st Period-1, Brandon, Hooker 3 11:02 (PS). Penalties-Hooker Bdn (holding), 2:40; Salame Bdn (delay of game), 6:57; Greig Bdn (interference), 16:16.
2nd Period-2, Brandon, Thorpe 1 (Schneider, Pierce), 19:17. Penalties-Kaddoura Sas (high sticking), 4:30; Schmiemann Bdn (cross checking), 8:09; Wouters Sas (interference), 13:23; McCartney Bdn (roughing), 19:59; McKay Sas (roughing), 19:59.
3rd Period-3, Saskatoon, Kaddoura 2 (Kucerik), 2:25. 4, Saskatoon, McNabb 2 (De La Gorgendiere, Kaddoura), 7:50. 5, Saskatoon, Kneen 4 (McKay), 10:19. 6, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 6 (Robins), 19:21 (EN). Penalties-Crnkovic Sas (holding), 4:32.
Shots on Goal-Brandon 10-7-7-24. Saskatoon 12-12-13-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Brandon 0 / 3; Saskatoon 0 / 4.
Goalies-Brandon, Patera 3-3-0-0 (36 shots-33 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 9-6-1-1 (24 shots-22 saves).
A-3,184
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Troy Paterson (60).
Linesmen-Brayden Glynn (96), Devan Thiessen (94).
