The Saskatoon Blades took their team defense acumen to another level Wednesday in a 5-1 triumph over the visiting Tri-City Americans.

The Bridge City Bunch held the 6-8-0 Ams to only 12 shots on goal while scoring their five goals on 19 shots of their own. Austin Elliott lost his bid for a second shutout this season in the third period to Lukas Dragicevic’s shot off an odd-man rush, one of the few the Blue and Gold allowed before 2,325 fans at SaskTel Centre. The Blades had a good start to their first home game in two-and-a-half weeks, or so it appeared when Brandon Lisowsky poked in a puck through Tri-Cities’ goaltender Nick Avakyan just 3:53 into the game. But, video review disallowed the goal on the basis that Lisowsky pushed Avakyan’s pad, with the puck underneath it, into the net. However, Lisowsky did score a goal that counted, as did Aidan De La Gorgendiere, Rowan Calvert, Ben Saunderson and Trevor Wong (pictured) as Saskatoon improved their season record to 11-3-0. Wong added two assists while De La Gorgendiere and Lisowsky each chipped in a helper. Saunderson’s goal was his first career tally in his 76th W-H-L game while rookie 16 year-old forward Smyth Rebman collected his first W-H-L point with an assist on Calvert’s game-winning marker. The Bridge City Bunch face another U-S Division team for the first time in almost three years on Friday when they welcome the Everett Silvertips to SaskTel Centre. Game time is 7 p.m. with the broadcast beginning at 6:45 on CJWW. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L, the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast and Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Saunderson and Calvert…..

Tri-City Americans 1 at Saskatoon Blades 5 – Status: Final
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK

Tri-City 0 0 1 – 1
Saskatoon 1 3 1 – 5

1st Period-1, Saskatoon, De La Gorgendiere 4 (Lisowsky, Wong), 18:27 (PP). Penalties-served by Feenan Tc (too many men), 8:59; Calvert Sas (checking to the head), 8:59; Lajoie Tc (tripping), 10:45; served by Feenan Tc (too many men), 17:03.

2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Calvert 3 (Volotovskii, Rebman), 7:21. 3, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 6 (De La Gorgendiere, Wong), 13:21 (PP). 4, Saskatoon, Saunderson 1 (Wiens), 14:52. Penalties-Greenway Tc (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting), 4:49; Watterodt Sas (major-fighting), 4:49; Friedt-Mohr Tc (delay of game), 13:08; Watterodt Sas (tripping), 17:34.

3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, Wong 5 (Molendyk, Roulette), 0:31. 6, Tri-City, Dragicevic 4 (Lajoie, Cardona), 4:53. Penalties-Watterodt Sas (hooking), 1:14; Ferguson Tc (delay of game), 3:57; Wong Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 3:57; Fan Tc (hooking), 10:50; Parr Sas (high sticking), 11:36.

Shots on Goal-Tri-City 2-5-5-12. Saskatoon 7-6-6-19.
Power Play Opportunities-Tri-City 0 / 3; Saskatoon 2 / 5.
Goalies-Tri-City, Avakyan 0-3-0-0 (19 shots-14 saves). Saskatoon, Elliott 6-1-0-0 (12 shots-11 saves).
A-2,325
Referees-Bob Millette (61), Tarrington Wyonzek (137).
Linesmen-Tanner McGregor (55), Riley Carriere (72).