Based on Wednesday’s first period alone, if you were asked which team played Tuesday night and which one had been idle since Saturday, you probably would’ve guessed wrong!
Coming off a heady 7-3 victory Tuesday in Brandon, the Saskatoon Blades kept the beat rolling in the first period Wednesday in front of 3,281 fans at SaskTel Centre, opening up a 2-0 lead while out-shooting Moose Jaw 21-5, on the way to a 6-1 triumph. The result moved the Bridge City Bunch eight points clear of the Warriors in the chase for second place in the W-H-L’s East Division, with Moose Jaw still holding four games in hand.
“Just coming off Brandon, the challenge we faced coming home so late (4:40 a.m. Wednesday) and guys’ cars weren’t quite starting when we got here so we faced a little adversity,” explained Blue and Gold defenceman Dawson Davidson (pictured). “For our group to come out like that, the coaches were thrilled and I think as players, we’ve got to realize that we are a very dangerous team when we commit to each other.”
Just three Blades players took care of the scoring Tuesday in Brandon. On Wednesday, six different Saskatoon snipers found the mark as the 32-13-8 Bridge City Bunch out-shot the 28-13-8 Warriors 48-20 in total. Davidson and rookie Kyle Crnkovic each had a goal and two assists, Ryan Hughes had a goal and a helper with Chase Wouters, Max Gerlach and Brandon Schuldhaus also connecting. Kirby Dach and Nolan Kneen each chipped in a pair of assists. Four of the Blue and Gold’s goals came on the power play while Justin Almeida was the only Moose Jaw player to beat Nolan Maier in the Blades’ net…on the man-advantage.
Saskatoon is off until Saturday when one of the three Honourable Mention teams in this week’s C-H-L Top 10 rankings, which were released Wednesday afternoon, visits Swift Current. The Bridge City Bunch also host Brandon Sunday. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Moose Jaw Warriors 1 at Saskatoon Blades 6 – Status: Final
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Moose Jaw 0 1 0 – 1
Saskatoon 2 2 2 – 6
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 6 (Davidson, Roykas Marthinsen), 9:46. 2, Saskatoon, Wouters 10 (Dach, Hughes), 19:48 (PP). Penalties-Taphorn Mj (charging), 16:17; Roykas Marthinsen Sas (hooking), 16:20; Stepanov Mj (boarding), 19:07.
2nd Period-3, Saskatoon, Hughes 20 (Haden, Kneen), 0:54. 4, Moose Jaw, Almeida 21 (Brook, Woo), 12:53 (PP). 5, Saskatoon, Davidson 10 (McKay, Dach), 18:11 (PP). Penalties-Wouters Sas (cross checking), 4:27; Robins Sas (interference), 11:11; Harsch Sas (cross checking), 13:02; McKay Sas (charging), 16:06; Brook Mj (hooking), 16:13; Almeida Mj (slashing), 19:37; Hamaliuk Mj (roughing), 19:55; Wouters Sas (roughing), 19:55.
3rd Period-6, Saskatoon, Gerlach 32 (Davidson, Crnkovic), 10:50 (PP). 7, Saskatoon, Schuldhaus 5 (Kneen, Crnkovic), 19:01 (PP). Penalties-Gardiner Mj (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 8:57; Kjemhus Mj (10-minute misconduct), 16:40; Woo Mj (roughing, major-charging, game misconduct), 16:40; Kaddoura Sas (10-minute misconduct), 16:40; Roykas Marthinsen Sas (roughing), 16:40; Brook Mj (roughing, roughing), 16:57; Huber Sas (slashing, roughing), 16:57.
Shots on Goal-Moose Jaw 5-6-9-20. Saskatoon 21-13-14-48.
Power Play Opportunities-Moose Jaw 1 / 5; Saskatoon 4 / 6.
Goalies-Moose Jaw, Evanoff 14-8-2-1 (48 shots-42 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 26-9-6-0 (20 shots-19 saves).
A-3,281
Referees-Allan Scott (38), Bryce Sebastian (64).
Linesmen-Tanner McGregor (55), Andrew Sawatsky (123).
