“Moving Week” for the Saskatoon Blades started with a disappointing 3-2 shootout loss to the visiting Regina Pats Wednesday night.
Although they picked up a point in the standings for getting to extra time, the Bridge City Bunch fell a point further back of East Division-leading Prince Albert and second place Winnipeg…both of whom won Wednesday night. The Raiders out-lasted the Tigers 4-3 in overtime in Medicine Hat while the ICE froze out visiting Moose Jaw 5-1. P-A has 65 points, Winnipeg 61, idle Brandon has 58 and the Blue and Gold have 55 points from a 25-20-5 record.
They Blades never led Wednesday in front of 2,850 “Winning Wednesday” fans at SaskTel Centre. In fact, Saskatoon trailed most of the night, thanks to allowing the opening goal to Riley Krane 44 seconds in.
“First shot of the game goes in the back of your net…that’s not quite the start that we were looking for,” said a disappointed Bridge City Bunch head coach Mitch Love. “We’re a little offensively-challenged at times and we’re going through a bit of that stretch right now where things don’t really come natural offensively for us. Even the two goals we got (Wednesday) night were kind of lucky bounces, if you want to call it that.
“We just can’t afford to play from behind right now. We’ve got to really find a way to get that first goal and have our opponents chase us.”
Martin Fasko-Rudas and Jayden Wiens tallied for the Blue and Gold who visit Moose Jaw Saturday, then host the Warriors Sunday afternoon.
The Queen City Kids are on a three-game winning streak, including a pair of extra-time victories over the Blades. Drew Englot scored the other goal for Regina in regulation while Zach Smith scored the shootout winner for the second straight game for the Pats. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Regina Pats 3 (SO) at Saskatoon Blades 2 – Status: Final SO
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Regina 1 1 0 0 – 3
Saskatoon 0 1 1 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Regina, Krane 13 (Evans), 0:44. Penalties-De La Gorgendiere Sas (hooking), 10:21; Kneen Sas (interference), 15:51; Robins Sas (boarding), 16:39; Krane Reg (roughing, major-fighting), 19:07; Kneen Sas (major-fighting), 19:07.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Fasko-Rudas 10 (Walford, Crnkovic), 13:04 (PP). 3, Regina, Englot 10 (Cikhart, Stanick), 14:26. Penalties-Englot Reg (delay of game), 1:22; Crnkovic Sas (interference), 3:12; Chorney Reg (tripping), 5:18; Zonneveld Reg (interference), 11:44; Krane Reg (roughing), 20:00; Nijhoff Reg (roughing), 20:00; Dach Sas (roughing), 20:00; Kneen Sas (roughing), 20:00.
3rd Period-4, Saskatoon, Wiens 6 (Plaschewsky, Daley), 3:34. Penalties-Wouters Sas (high sticking), 7:14.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout – Regina 2 (Denomie G, Dubinsky NG, Smith G), Saskatoon 1 (Crnkovic NG, McKay G, Dach NG).
Shots on Goal-Regina 5-11-7-2-1-26. Saskatoon 6-9-7-3-0-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Regina 0 / 5; Saskatoon 1 / 4.
Goalies-Regina, Buskey 5-6-0-0 (25 shots-23 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 16-15-1-3 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-2,850
Referees-Brayden Arcand (71), Brian MacDonald (7).
Linesmen-Brayden Glynn (96), Aiden Penner (109).
