The Saskatoon Blades clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the W-H-L playoffs Saturday by doing exactly what was necessary to defeat a nemesis as the Bridge City Bunch trimmed the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-1.
The Blue and Gold scored first, using their power play to advantage, as defenceman Charlie Wright (pictured) converted Jake Chiasson’s cross-crease pass just past the six minute mark of the first period. Goaltender Ethan Chadwick made sure that goal stood as the lead after 20 minutes by making a couple of big saves, including one off Canes’ defenceman Chase Pauls on a breakaway coming out of the penalty box. The Blades put their fourth straight win and 41st victory of the season away with three unanswered second period. Chadwick lost his shutout bid with 64 seconds remaining in the third period, but won his 20th game of the season personally and Saskatoon won for the 22nd time at SaskTel Centre, eclipsing their home victory total from last season. Chiasson, Jayden Wiens, Egor Sidorov and Aidan De La Gorgendiere also tallied for the 41-13-5 Bridge City Bunch as they split their season series with 32-22-6 Lethbridge. Sidorov joined Chiasson with a goal and an assist while Chiasson’s line-mates, Conner Roulette and Jordan Keller, each chipped in a pair of helpers in front of 3,615 fans at SaskTel Centre. The Blue and Gold complete their only three games-in-three days stretch Sunday when they visit the Regina Pats at 4 o’clock. CJWW’s broadcast begins at 3-30. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L, audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast and Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Wright and Chadwick…..
Lethbridge Hurricanes 1 at Saskatoon Blades 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, March 4, 2023 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Lethbridge 0 0 1 – 1
Saskatoon 1 3 1 – 5
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Wright 6 (Chiasson, Roulette), 6:20 (PP). Penalties-Marques Let (tripping), 5:18; Pauls Let (hooking), 9:39; Gustafson Sas (slashing), 16:28.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Chiasson 19 (Keller, Roulette), 3:23. 3, Saskatoon, Wiens 15 (Sidorov, Lisowsky), 9:49 (PP). 4, Saskatoon, Sidorov 38 (Wong, Shugrue), 12:51. Penalties-Smith Let (inter. on goaltender), 9:29; De La Gorgendiere Sas (high sticking), 14:34; Shepard Let (cross checking), 18:32.
3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, De La Gorgendiere 11 (Gustafson, Keller), 4:39. 6, Lethbridge, Doyle 3 (Bentham, Shepard), 18:56. Penalties-Jones Let (high sticking, high sticking), 10:21; Gustafson Sas (inter. on goaltender), 13:45.
Shots on Goal-Lethbridge 5-6-9-20. Saskatoon 10-12-12-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Lethbridge 0 / 3; Saskatoon 2 / 6.
Goalies-Lethbridge, Thomson 9-5-1-1 (34 shots-29 saves). Saskatoon, Chadwick 20-8-1-1 (20 shots-19 saves).
A-3,615
Referees-Ty Skene, Graedy Hamilton (57).
Linesmen-Levi Schutz (110), Sean Dufour (50).
