The Saskatoon Blades showed their gratefulness to a large turn-out for Fan Appreciation Night Saturday by achieving all they wanted – and more – in a 5-0 victory over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.
The largest crowd of the season, 13,004 at SaskTel Centre, had to wait until the third period for the biggest personal milestones to happen. Captain Trevor Wong (pictured) reached 100 points when he scored six seconds into the third period on a power play. The evening was capped off when Egor Sidorov’s ninth shot on goal of the night found its way past P-A goaltender Nathan Preston with 34 seconds remaining, giving the Belarus import right winger 50 goals for the season. In both instances, the 50 goals for Sidorov and the 100 points for Wong were the first time those season milestones had been reached by Bridge City Bunch players since the 1995-96 season. In that campaign, Frank Banham scored 83 goals amongst 152 points and Mark Deyell notched 61 goals amongst his W-H-L-best 159 points. The third member of their line, Clarke Wilm, also eclipsed 100 points with 110. Rowan Calvert, Easton Armstrong and Fraser Minten also tallied as the Blue and Gold won for the 50th time this season, just the third time in franchise history that has happened. Somewhat lost in the accomplishments was Evan Gardner’s 27-save shutout. His fourth of the season and the eighth goose-egg of the campaign for Saskatoon as a team, a Blades’ franchise record. The end of the regular-season means the W-H-L playoffs will be ushered in on Thursday at SaskTel Centre with the Bridge City Bunch taking on the Raiders in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series. First face-off for Game 1 is 7 o’clock. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne and Sidorov plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..
Prince Albert Raiders 0 at Saskatoon Blades 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, March 23, 2024 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Prince Albert 0 0 0 – 0
Saskatoon 1 1 3 – 5
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Calvert 10 (Suzdalev, Siepmann), 6:29 (PP). Penalties-Kovacs Pa (roughing), 5:03; Sidorov Sas (slashing), 14:18; Kovacs Pa (delay of game), 16:53.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Armstrong 34 (Minten, Suzdalev), 0:42. Penalties-Lisowsky Sas (holding), 5:45; Tastad Sas (tripping), 14:36; Oiring Pa (cross checking), 18:26.
3rd Period-3, Saskatoon, Wong 15 (Armstrong), 0:06 (PP). 4, Saskatoon, Minten 22 (Armstrong), 11:52. 5, Saskatoon, Sidorov 50 (Wright, Wong), 19:26 (PP). Penalties-Goldsmith Pa (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 0:15; Parr Sas (major-fighting), 0:15; Crocker Pa (hooking), 5:50; Lisowsky Sas (tripping), 8:22; McMillen Pa (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 14:36; Siepmann Sas (major-fighting), 15:33; Oiring Pa (roughing), 17:51; Martin Pa (major-fighting), 20:00; Tastad Sas (major-fighting), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Prince Albert 10-9-8-27. Saskatoon 13-4-10-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Prince Albert 0 / 4; Saskatoon 3 / 7.
Goalies-Prince Albert, Preston 0-4-0-0 (27 shots-22 saves). Saskatoon, Gardner 21-5-0-2 (27 shots-27 saves).
A-13,004
Referees-Adam Bloski (16), Troy Murray (34).
Linesmen-Marc Guitard (116), Tanner McGregor (55).
