Sidorov strikes in clutch time again for Blades

Scores OT winner to even series with Warriors 2-2

Egor Sidorov (#19) celebrates his OT winner for the Blades.

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Egor Sidorov renewed his reputation of being “Mr. Clutch” for the Saskatoon Blades.

On Wednesday night playing before 4,643 spectators at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, Sidorov’s Blades were locked in a 4-4 tie in overtime against the host Moose Jaw Warriors in Game 4 of the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series. The Blades were applying pressure in the Moose Jaw zone and 19-year-old right-winger Rilen Kovacevic had a chance clear the puck out of his zone down the right side boards by the blue-line.

Kovacevic tried to tip the puck out of his zone, but Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky made a sweeping check with his stick and knocked the puck high in the air to Sidorov, who was alone in front of the Moose Jaw net. Sidorov put a deke on Warriors star netminder Jackson Unger and tucked home a forehand shot to give the Blades a 5-4 victory at the 3:29 mark of the extra session.

The Blades pile on top of Egor Sidorov after he scores in OT.

After scoring his extra time winner, Sidorov, who leads the WHL with 13 goals this post-season, proceeded to celebrate by rolling around on the ice before he was mobbed by his teammates who poured off the Saskatoon bench.

The win allowed the Blades to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2. In the four games of the set played so far, three of them have been decided in overtime. The series returns to Saskatoon for Game 5 on Friday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

“It was a great backcheck by (Brandon) Lisowsky,” said Sidorov, who has four game-winning goals in the current post-season. “It was a great backcheck.

Blades fans in Moose Jaw celebrate their team’s OT win.

“He just pass me puck. Honestly, it was in my head to go between my legs, but after, I was no. I was going to fake backhand and go forehand goal.

“That was a big game. It was huge for us win. We just have to keep going.”

Warriors captain and star offensive-defenceman Denton Mateychuk said Wednesday’s loss was a tough result to swallow. He thought his team showed great resiliency battling back from deficits of 3-0 and 4-2 to tie the contest.

“It is obviously a bit of a disappointment to let that one slide away after how we battled back after the first period,” said Mateychuk. “There were a lot of good things that came out of that game.

Egor Sidorov has four game winning goals in the post-season.

“It just stings a little bit.”

The Blades came out of the games on fire. Just 14 seconds into the first period, Blades star centre Fraser Minten put a shot on goal from the left boards in the Moose Jaw zone.

Unger got a piece of the shot causing the puck to fall and sit loose in the crease in the Moose Jaw goal. Lisowsky swooped in and popped home the loose puck to give the visitors a 1-0 edge.

Just 53 seconds later, Blades star captain Trevor Wong jetted into the Moose Jaw zone on a rush. He set up just inside the right faceoff circle, used Mateychuk as a screen and blew home his fourth of the post-season to push Saskatoon’s advantage out to 2-0.

Brandon Lisowsky had a goal and two assists for the Blades.

Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary called a time out immediately after the Blades second goal to settle his troops down.

A short time later, the Warriors went on the power play, but they weren’t able to get a traction moment. The Blades were strong on the kill. The Warriors best scoring chance came when offensive-defenceman Kalem Parker put a shot through a screen that was gloved by Blades breakout rookie netminder Evan Gardner.

After that kill, the Blades extended their lead to 3-0 at the 8:32 mark of the opening frame. Blades offensive-defenceman Ben Saunderson put a shot on goal from the point that was deflected home by import right-winger Alexander Suzdalev.

Brayden Yager had two goals and one assist for the Warriors.

“I loved our start,” said Blades head coach Brennan Sonne, who team finished first overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 50-13-2-3 mark. “That is what I am talking about the desperation that we had.

“It went away because of circumstances, but I loved our start. That was our best start of playoffs.”

The Warriors got a traction moment at the 12:06 mark of the opening frame when star right-winger Brayden Yager slipped home a shot from the point right when a Moose Jaw power play expired to cut the Blades edge to 3-1.

With 3:06 remaining in the first, Yager had the puck on the left wing in the Saskatoon zone and passed it across the front of the net to star right-winger Jagger Firkus. Firkus ripped home his 10^th of the post-season to further cut the Blades lead to 3-2.

Jagger Firkus had a goal and two assists for the Warriors.

Just 58 seconds later, Blades star offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk fired home a shot from the point to give Saskatoon a 4-2 edge heading into the first intermission. After 20 minutes, the Blades led 4-2, but the Warriors had a 12-7 edge in shots on goal.

The offence kept coming in the second. Just 64 seconds into the frame, Yager tucked home his second of the night at the right side of the Saskatoon net to cut the Blades advantage to 4-3.

The Warriors evened the score at 4-4 at the 9:57 mark of the second on a tally from right-winger Rilen Kovacevic. Kovacevic collected rebound in front the Saskatoon net from a point shot taken by Warriors overage import right-winger Martin Rysavy and potted home the equalizer.

Trevor Wong had the Blades second goal on Wednesday.

Mateychuk said the Warriors had belief that they could rally back and tie the game.

“I think it shows the heart that we have in our room,” said Mateychuk, whose club outshot the Blades 14-6 in the second period. “Everybody in there wants to win, and that is a really good thing.

“Having a better start I think everybody knows that. You can’t give up three goals in the first eight minutes. We’ll learn from that and be ready to go Friday.”

The third period was a scoreless frame with the teams finishing tied 8-8 in shots on goal.

With 10:54 remaining in the third, the Blades had arguably their best chance to score when overage star left-winger Easton Armstrong was stoned twice at the left side of the Moose Jaw by Unger.

Alexander Suzdalev had the Blades third goal on Wednesday.

Yager had a chance to net his third of the night with 6:50 to play in the frame, but he was denied by Gardner’s glove hand.

That set the stage for Sidorov come through with the winner in overtime.

Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary was pleased his squad rallied back to tie the game but said the stumble out of the gate in the first period hurt his club.

“I’m just really disappointed in the start,” said O’Leary, whose team finished fifth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 44-21-0-3 mark. “The goals were one thing.

“I just thought we stood around and watched. For as big as this game was and as excited as we were about the opportunity, it is just disappointing with the start. Again, they did what they always do.

Tanner Molendyk had the Blades fourth goal on Wednesday.

“They punch back. It was great to battle ourselves back into the game. At the end of the day, you can’t start like that and expect to get a bounce late.”

Gardner stopped 33 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades. Jackson Unger turned away 19 shots to take the extra time setback in net for the Warriors.

Lisowsky had a three-point night for the Blades collecting his goal and two assists. He also had a plus-two rating in the plus-minus department.

Yager had an assist to go with his two goals for a three-point night, and Firkus had a pair of helpers to go with his marker.

Sidorov has loved the battle his club has shown in the series, which has been extremely competitive.

Rilen Kovacevic had the Warriors fourth goal on Wednesday.

“We are not tired,” said Sidorov. “There are two great teams playing each other, so that is a good experience.”

The Blades did hit the ice on Wednesday without veteran defenceman John Babcock due to an undisclosed injury. Blades utility winger Tyler Parr returned to action after missing seven games due to an undisclosed injury.

Looking back at the first four games of the series so far, Sonne believes it has been a great one for the fans. Due to being in the series as a bench boss, Sonne said it has been challenging on his heart.

“I’m in the emotions,” said Sonne. “I’m in the room. I’m with the guys.

“I’m doing all the video, so just imagine me stepping out of that and I’m not the coach anymore. If I’m a fan, I’m really enjoying this. As a coach, I’m going to have to get an EKG (electrocardiogram) actually is what is going to have to happen.

The Blades head off the ice after their win on Wednesday.

“As a fan, I think this is entertainment to the max, and I think the province is probably enjoying this quite a bit.”

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Rysavy, Unger push Warriors to 3-1 victory in Game 3

Blades trail WHL’s Eastern Conference final 2-1

Martin Rysavy celebrates scoring for the Warriors.

MOOSE JAW, Sask. - Martin Rysavy got a monkey off his back and Jackson Unger turned away the push back.

Those two developments allowed the Moose Jaw Warriors to slip past the Saskatoon Blades 3-1 on Tuesday night before 4,483 spectators at the Moose Jaw Events Centre in Game 3 of the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series. With the win, the Warriors take a 2-1 in the best-of-seven set.

Entering Tuesday’s contest, Rysavy had gone five straight games without scoring a goal. The overage import left-winger had some tough luck in the Blades 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 on Saturday in Saskatoon. He missed a couple of golden opportunities to put the puck in the net which stuck in his head.

Martin Rysavy ended a five game goal scoring drought on Tuesday.

With the Warriors and Blades locked in 1-1 tie in the third period, Rysavy wasn’t going to miss his chance to get over his string of bad luck.

On a rush into the Saskatoon zone, a shot by Warriors star right-winger Jagger Firkus rebounded to Rysavy. With Blades breakout rookie netminder Evan Gardner sprawled out after making the initial stop on Firkus, Rysavy potted his fourth of the post-season into an open cage to put the Warriors in front 2-1 at the 7:14 mark of the frame and that goal held up as the winning tally.

Jackson Unger made 31 saves in goal for the Warriors on Tuesday.

“Obvious, I was frustrated after the second game in Saskatoon,” said Rysavy. “I had chances to score.

“I hit one crossbar. I missed an empty net there in the first. I was really frustrated that is why today I kind of made sure when I saw the rebound I’m just going to slap it as hard as I can to the net.

“I just don’t want to miss it anymore. It was an important goal.”

After the Warriors went ahead, the Blades came with an intense push back firing 10 shots on goal over the final 10:20 of the third. Warriors star netminder Jackson Unger had to come up with a major stop on Blades star import right-winger Egor Sidorov with about 6:44 remaining in the frame.

Grayden Siepmann scored to give the Blades a 1-0 lead.

Unger followed that stop with the save of the game that likely prevented the two squads from going to overtime for the third consecutive contest. Blades import right-winger Alexander Suzdalev put a backhand shot towards the Moose Jaw net from inside the right faceoff circle.

The puck deflected off Warriors defenceman Kalem Parker to a pinching Blades 20-year-old defenceman Charlie Wright in the left slot. Wright fired the puck to what appeared to be an open cage, but Unger made a diving glove stop to keep the Warriors ahead on the scoreboard. The Calgary product finished the contest making 31 saves to pick up the win in goal.

With 73 seconds remaining in the third and Gardner pulled to give the Blades an extra attacker, Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk sealed the victory. The star offensive-defenceman got the puck in his zone and made a long bank off the boards clear where the puck found its way into the Blades empty net to round out the 3-1 final score.

Evan Gardner stopped 29-of-31 shots in goal for the Blades.

“I didn’t like our first 40 minutes,” said Blades head coach Brennan Sonne. “Our players didn’t either.

“It was just a billion turnovers and lack of dig in, especially in the offensive zone. It was just one and done, one and done, one and done. I thought it was better in the third.

“We finally found a little bit of desperation. We know we can comeback in games, but you can’t play 20 minutes of a game or 18 minutes of a game.”

Over the three games played in the Eastern Conference final so far, Unger has stop 93-of-100 shots fired his way. He believes has found his groove, and he wants to continue coming through for his Warriors.

Atley Calvart (#23) scored the equalizer for the Warriors.

“Every game from now on is the biggest game of the year and in some of our careers,” said Unger. “I think there is everything to play for.

“We can’t let off the gas no matter what. As the games go on, we are getting closer and closer to where we want to be. We have to be at our best.”

Moose Jaw had the first big chance to score in Tuesday clash just under eight minutes into the opening frame. Warriors 20-year-old star right-winger Atley Calvert had the puck at the right side of the Saskatoon net and put a shot through the crease area for a missed chance. At around the midway point of the first, the Warriors held an 8-4 edge in shots on goal.

Fans at the Moose Jaw Events Centre cheer on the Warriors.

The Blades broke through on the score board at the 10:50 mark of the opening frame when 19-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann floated a seeing-eye shot from the point home to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The goal was Siepmann’s first in the 2023-24 campaign.

“Through all the ups and downs, you just keep shooting,” said Siepmann, who has posted one goal, six assists and a plus-nine rating in the plus-minus department in the Blades 12 post-season games. “It is good to finally get that one off my back.

“I feel like I am getting more confident out there. It is only going to go up.”

Atley Calvert had one goal for the Warriors on Tuesday.

The Warriors came with a big push back and outshot the Blades 18-9 in the opening frame. After the Blades went ahead, Gardner came up with a big save on Warriors right-winger Rilen Kovacevic on a rush down the right wing and he turned away Warriors star centre Matthew Savoie on the one-timer to keep the Blades ahead on the scoreboard going into the first intermission.

Just 3:43 into the second, the Warriors evened the score at 1-1 thanks to a slick power-play goal from 20-year-old right-winger Atley Calvert. Calvert had the puck low by the right side of the Saskatoon net, and he banked the puck home shooting it in off the skate of Blades star offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk for the equalizer.

Jagger Firkus (#27) had a pair of assists for the Warriors on Tuesday.

Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary said it was that his players continued to carry a top level effort and weren’t derailed by the fact the Blades scored first.

“It is important and not just in playoff time,” said O’Leary. “You work towards that all season long.

“It is a dress rehearsal over the course of the season, and our guys have shown that all season long that if bad things happen or circumstances change it doesn’t change what we do. The standard doesn’t change. Responsibilities don’t change.

“Tonight was another good example of that.”

That set the stage for the third where Rysavy scored the winner and Mateychuk scored into an empty-net. The Blades outshot the Warriors 16-5 in third, but Unger ensured the host side came away with the win.

Charlie Wright just missed getting a clutch goal for the Blades.

Gardner turned way 29-of-31 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades.

Firkus picked up a pair of assists for the Warriors in the win.

The two sides go back at it for Game 4 set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. Looking towards Game 4, Sonne wants his club to do a better job at winning puck battles.

“I mean there will be some structural points that I have to go watch right now,” said Sonne, whose club topped the WHL’s regular season standings with a 50-13-2-3 mark. “To this day and I would love to hear from other coaches, but to this day, I have yet to find a structure thing that covers for loosing puck battles.

Denton Mateychuk (#5) scored an empty-net goal for the Warriors.

“If you know of one, let me know. As of right now in the hockey world, I’ve never heard of one. It is pretty simple.

“We have to be desperate at the get go.”

O’Leary said his club needs to be a touch sharper on a number of little things to have success against a strong team like the Blades.

“They check well,” said O’Leary, whose team finished fifth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 44-21-0-3 mark. “They do a great job though the neutral zone.

“Certainly in front of their net, they block a lot of shots. We need to continue to stick with it and not get frustrated and stay patient in terms of generating offence. There were some things in the third period there that we need to clean up.

The Warriors celebrate their win on Tuesday night.

“Our D-zone coverage, we can tighten things up in front of Jackson (Unger). We expect more of the same tomorrow. We just need to make sure that they see our best.”

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Blades take Game 2 overtime classic 3-2 over Warriors

WHL’s Eastern Conference final all even at 1-1

The celebration is on after Fraser Minten scores the OT winner.

Two nights, two overtime classics.

The WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series between the Saskatoon Blades and Moose Jaw Warriors is pure fire.

In Game 1 on Friday at the SaskTel Centre, star centre Brayden Yager scored at the 12:34 mark of overtime to deliver his Warriors to a 4-3 victory to open the best-of-seven series between the two sides.

In Game 2 played before 9,328 spectators at the SaskTel Centre on Saturday, star centre Fraser Minten played the role of overtime hero for the Blades. With the two sides locked in a 2-2 tie in the extra session, Minten broke into the Warriors zone on a two-on-one break with Lukas Hansen, who was in possession of the puck.

The Blades faithful cheers their team’s overtime winner.

Hansen entered the zone jetting down the right wing and made a backhand pass across the face the Moose Jaw goal to Minten, who was open for a backdoor feed at the left of the net. Minten made no mistake firing home his first game winning and overtime winning goal of the post-season to deliver the Blades to a 3-2 victory to the loudest cheers heard at the SaskTel Centre in the current WHL campaign. The tally came with 6:54 remaining in the extra session.

With the Blades win on Saturday, the Eastern Conference Championship Series is now tied 1-1.

The series now switches back to Moose Jaw for Games 3 and 4 set for Tuesday and Wednesday respectively at 7 p.m. on both nights at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. For the few tickets that remain for those contests, purchasers would be wise to pick them up as quickly as possible and get popcorn at the ready.

The Blades pile on top of Fraser Minten after he scored in OT.

With the way Games 1 and 2 played out in Saskatoon, it is highly likely the people attending Games 3 and 4 in Moose Jaw are in for a show. The skill on both sides has shown through, and the speed of how both teams get up and down the ice has been incredible.

Blades head coach Brennan Sonne and Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary were constantly juggling their forward lines through the contest trying to find the final push that would give their respective side the edge.

The unsung heroes of the first two games might be Blades breakout netminder Evan Gardner and Warriors star netminder Jackson Unger. Both have come through with some big time saves to date in this series.

Fraser Minten’s OT goal was his first extra time tally of the playoffs.

As for Saturday’s game, the Blades came out with some jump. On an early power play in the first period, Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky was stopped in close by Unger.

After that big stop by Unger, the Warriors ensured they knocked the Blades fans into silence and gave reason for their fans to cheer like they were back in their team’s raucous old home rink the Moose Jaw Civic Centre, which was best known as “The Crushed Can.”

At the 12:33 mark of the opening frame, the Warriors broke into the Saskatoon zone on a two-on-one with two of their high-end skilled players. Centre Matthew Savoie came down the left wing and made a pass over to star 20-year-old right-winger Atley Calvert. Calvert blew home his fifth of the post-season to put the Warriors up 1-0.

Atley Calvert had the Warriors first goal on Saturday.

Just under five minutes later, Warriors offensive-defenceman Kalem Parker put home a smart midrange shot from the front of the Saskatoon net to give the visitors a 2-0 edge. Parker’s goal was one that would have made his older sister Mackenna, who starred for the Saskatoon Stars female under-18 AAA team from 2014 to 2018, proud.

When first period came to a close, the Warriors held a 2-0 lead with the Blades holding an 8-6 edge in shots on goal.

The Blades rallied in the second. At the 11-minute mark of the frame, Blades star offensive-defenceman Tanner Molendyk slid home a power-play goal from the top of the right faceoff circle in the Moose Jaw zone to cut the Warriors lead to 2-1. Molendyk’s tally came off the rare four versus three power-play opportunity.

Kalem Parker scored to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead.

With 2:31 remaining in the second, Lisowsky potted a rebound at the front of the Moose Jaw net from a shot taken by Blades star import right-winger Egor Sidorov to even the score at 2-2. Sidorov finished the contest with a pair of assists, and he has points in his last four consecutive games piling up eight goals and four assists over that time.

In the final seconds of the second, Warriors star centre Brayden Yager tried to bury a shot from the left side of the Saskatoon net, but he was denied by a right pad kick save Gardner.

The Warriors came out flying in the third holding a 5-1 edge in shots on goal over the first eight minutes of the frame. After that surge, Gardener made a big stop on Warriors captain and star offensive-defenceman Denton Mateychuk at the left side of the Saskatoon net.

Tanner Molendyk scored the Blades first goal on Saturday.

The Blades responded with a push back in the second half of the third. Unger stoned Sidorov on a one-time shot from the right wing and later followed up with a big glove save on Lisowsky. That set the stage for overtime.

Early in the extra session, Gardner stoned Yager on a shot from the left side of the Saskatoon net. One of the most challenging moments Gardner had to deal with was collecting a high in the air weird bounce shot at the right side of the Saskatoon net. The netminder has to secure the puck while Warriors left-winger Martin Rysavy was right in his face.

Those stops allowed the Blades to ultimately win the contest on Minten’s winning goal, which actually came about by veteran savvy hard work from Blades gritty right-winger Vaughn Watterodt. Watterodt is skilled at agitating players on the opposition.

Blades fans celebrate a goal from Tanner Molendyk.

Before Minten scored, the Warriors were pressing for the winning tally in the Saskatoon zone. Mateychuk attempted to fire a shot on goal from the point, but his drive was blocked by Watterodt.

The Warriors defenceman followed his shot and attempted to get the puck back from Watterodt. Watterodt used his right stick hand to make a backhanded pass to the right wing that sprung Hansen on the two-on-one with Minten that resulted in the overtime winner.

While making the backhanded pass to Hansen, Watterodt made a quick and slick sleight of hand tug with his left hand on Mateychuk’s stick. That tug caused Mateychuk to tumble on the ice and prevented him from getting back to defend the Blades offensive rush the other way.

Brandon Lisowsky celebrates scoring the equalizer for the Blades.

That sequence happened so fast that depending on what angle you watched it from, you might have thought Mateychuk lost his balance and fell while battling Watterodt for the puck.

Savoie talked to officials on the ice about that whole sequence following Minten’s goal, but his arguments didn’t have any effect on changing the game’s outcome.

Gardner stopped 25 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Blades. Unger turned away 34 shots to take the setback in net for the Warriors.

Before the Eastern Conference final between the Blades and Warriors started, the series was expected to be a barnburner.

Brandon Lisowsky fires a shot on goal for the Blades.

During the regular season, the Blades topped the WHL’s overall standings with a 50-13-2-3 record and were rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Warriors finished fifth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 44-21-0-3 mark.

The two sides split their six head-to-head encounters in the regular season without having to go to extra time.

After two games, the Eastern Conference final so far has managed to actually exceeded expectations of how good it could be.

Egor Sidorov had a pair of assists for the Blades.

Going into Game 3 on Tuesday in Moose Jaw, the Blades roster will get a boost as star overage left-winger Easton Armstrong returns after serving a four-game league imposed suspension. 

Armstrong was suspended for receiving a charging major and a game misconduct in the Blades 2-1 overtime win over the Red Deer Rebels at home on April 14.

Armstrong was given his infractions in Game 2 of that series with the Rebels after he bowled over Red Deer netminder Chase Wutzke.

In 62 regular season game split between the Wenatchee Wild and the Blades in 2023-24, Armstrong recorded 34 goals and 22 assists to go with a plus-24 rating in the plus-minus department. 

Vaughn Watterodt (#18) blocks a shot for the Blades.

In six post-season games with the Blades, Armstrong recorded five goals and three assists to go with a plus-four rating.

His return will give the Blades offence a boost.

Adding another good player is going to further increase the entertainment value of this series. Anyone involved with this series whether you are with the competing teams, game staffers or spectators should soak in the moment, because something special is going down.

Fraser Minten gives a stick to a young fan.

When the dust ultimately settles in this battle between the Blades and Warriors, it will likely be one of those things where you have to smile because it happened.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Warriors’ Yager breaks Blades hearts with OT winner

Moose Jaw takes WHL’s Eastern Conference final opener 4-3

The Warriors mob Brayden Yager after their OT win on Friday.

Late great Saskatoon StarPhoenix sports editor Doug McConachie would shaken the hands of any Moose Jaw Warriors fans on Friday night and told them they are supporting a great team.

Game 1 of the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series between the visiting Warriors and the host Saskatoon Blades was a post-season classic on Friday night at the SaskTel Centre. McConachie would have enjoyed Friday’s contest between the Warriors and Blades even if the visitors skated away with the biggest highlight of the night that was provided by a Saskatoon area product.

With the two sides locked in a 3-3 tie in overtime, Warriors star centre Brayden Yager roofed a midrange shot from the front of the Saskatoon net to the top right corner of the goal at the 12:34 mark of the extra session to give Moose Jaw a 4-3 victory. 

Blades centre Lukas Hansen processes his team’s OT loss.

Big cheers went up from the sizable contingent of Warriors fans among the 8,973 spectators in attendance in an attempt to resurrect the spirit of team’s former rowdy home rink the Moose Jaw Civic Centre, which was also known as “The Crushed Can.”

Most of the spectators who were in attendance were cheering faithfully for the Blades. While they no doubt were disappointed by the end result on the scoreboard, they would have to admit Friday’s clash was an outstanding game.

The two sides engaged in a lot of back and forth play. The atmosphere in the building was great with fans often exchanging competing cheers.

Blades 19-year-old star import right-winger Egor Sidorov thrilled with a pair of goals. Warriors captain and offensive-defenceman Denton Mateychuk showed great presence controlling play on the ice recording a pair of assists and a plus-three rating in the plus-minus department.

Brayden Yager scored the OT winner for the Warriors on Friday.

The host side would get the first good initial jump in the contest.

Just 3:05 into the first period, the Blades broke through on the scoreboard on a goal from 20-year-old defenceman Charlie Wright. Wright got the puck at the left point, showed great patience, crept down close to the top of the faceoff circle and wired an off-speed shot past Warriors star netminder Jackson Unger.

The Blades continued to pour on the pressure, but Unger stood his ground. Before the midway part of the frame, he made a couple of slick glove saves off Blades left-winger Misha Volotovskii and captain Trevor Wong.

Saskatoon held a 12-3 edge in shots on goal with 10:50 remaining in the opening frame.

Egor Sidorov had a pair of goals for the Blades on Friday.

Before the frame ended, the Warriors came with some push back. Star 20-year-old right-winger Atley Calvert had a close in chance on goal, but he put a shot over top of the Saskatoon goal.

With 3:01 remaining in the first, Blades breakout rookie netminder Evan Gardner had to come up big for the hosts. Warriors 19-year-old defenceman Kalem Parker had a couple of close in chances on the Saskatoon net, but Gardner came up with two big stops.

The rebound of the second shot went off to the left side of the Saskatoon net to Warriors veteran left-winger Brayden Schuurman. Schuurman tried to put the puck into the open side of the net, but he was denied by the right toe of Gardner.

In the second, Sidorov continued his hot play from the final two games of his club’s Eastern Conference semifinal series win over the Red Deer Rebels recording six goals and two assists in those outings. Just 1:59 into the second frame of Friday’s game, Sidorov circled in the Moose Jaw zone and fired a midrange shot from just above the top of the left faceoff circle home to put the Blades up 2-0.

Charlie Wright had the Blades first goal on Friday.

The game’s momentum suddenly swung just 14 seconds later when Schuurman scored for the Warriors to cut the Blades lead to 2-1. Warriors centre Lynden Lakovic had the puck in the left corner of the Saskatoon zone and made a drop pass to Schuurman in all alone in front of the Saskatoon net.

Schuurman tucked home his third of the post-season to trim the Blades lead to one goal. The line of Schuurman, Lakovic and right-winger Rilen Kovacevic might have been the forward unit that had the strongest game between the two sides on Friday.

Just under six minutes later, the Warriors evened the score at 2-2 when Calvert deflected home a shot in front of the Saskatoon net taken by Warriors star centre Matthew Savoie midrange from the left side of the goal.

Denton Mateychuk had a pair of assists for the Warriors.

Following Calvert’s tally, dueling chants of “let’s go Warriors” and “let’s go Blades” broke out between the two fan bases in attendance.

Late in the second, Blades star centre Fraser Minten was denied twice on a rush into the Moose Jaw zone, and Blades star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky was unable to tuck home the puck at the left of the Moose Jaw net with Unger sprawled out.

With just under a minute to play in the second, Warriors star right-winger Jagger Firkus wired a shot off the crossbar of the Saskatoon net as the visitors just missed a chance to take their first lead in the contest.

Just moments into the third, Kovacevic jetted into the Saskatoon zone on a breakaway. He tried to put a shot to the top right corner of the net, but he was robbed by a glove save from Gardner.

Fans at the SaskTel Centre cheer on the Blades.

With 4:02 remaining in the third, Warriors finally went ahead on the scoreboard when Savoie roofed a shot from the front of the Saskatoon net to the top left corner of the goal to put the visitors up 3-2. Savoie continued to live up to his reputation of being a clutch performer in the post-season building off of what he did in the WHL Playoffs the previous two years as a member of the Winnipeg Ice.

Despite falling behind on the scoreboard the Blades didn’t go away.

With 87 seconds remaining in the third and Gardner pulled for an extra attacker, it was vintage Sidorov as the star right-winger one-timed home a shot from the right wing to force a 3-3 tie and overtime. 

Brayden Schuurman scored the Warriors first goal on Friday.

The tally was Sidorov’s second goal of the contest as he continued to live up to his reputation as being a clutch performer in the post-season built in last year’s and this year’s WHL Playoffs.

Early in overtime, Blades defenceman Grayden Siepmann got stopped on an offensive rush, when his drive was swallowed up by Unger. 

That set the stage for Yager, who was having a fairly quiet night, to come through as the overtime hero for the visitors.

Gardner turned away 22 shots to take the setback in net for the Blades. Unger stopped 28 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors.

Alexander Suzdalev, left, is checked by Matthew Savoie.

During the regular season, the Blades topped the WHL’s overall standings with a 50-13-2-3 record and were rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. Saskatoon advanced through the first two rounds of the WHL Playoffs with an 8-1 mark.

The Warriors finished fifth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 44-21-0-3 mark. Moose Jaw advanced through the first two rounds of the WHL Playoffs with an 8-1 mark.

The two sides split their six head-to-head encounters in the regular season without having to go to extra time.

The Warriors celebrate their OT victory on Friday.

The two sides go at it again in Game 2 on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. If Game 1 was any indication, fans should have their popcorn at the ready for Game 2 and be ready to be entertained.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Which goalie will be “the guy” in Blades versus Warriors?

WHL’s Eastern Conference final opens on Friday

Evan Gardner covers up a puck in goal for the Blades.

How bad does each goalie want it?

It might be unfair to just look at the guys playing between the pipes when it comes to a hockey playoff series, but the reality is the netminders are the first players anyone checks out when a team wins or loses in the post-season. When it comes to the conference championship round in the WHL Playoffs, a goalie making one or two impossible saves usually makes the different in which team moves on and which club heads into the off-season thinking about what might have been.

This year’s WHL Eastern Conference Championship Series features two clubs in search of their first league title as the Saskatoon Blades take on the Moose Jaw Warriors. The best-of-seven series begins on Friday with Game 1 set for 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre.

This also marks the first time the Eastern Conference final will be an all-Saskatchewan battle since 1993. Back in 1993, the Swift Current Broncos swept away the Regina Pats and advanced to win the WHL title.

In the 2023-24 campaign, the Blades finished first overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 50-13-2-3 record and are 8-1 advancing through the first two rounds of the post-season. Saskatoon was also rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings.

The Warriors placed fifth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 44-21-0-3 mark and are also 8-1 in advancing through the first two rounds of the post-season.

Saskatoon is in the Eastern Conference final for a second straight year. Moose Jaw is in the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2012.

Jackson Unger became the Warriors starting goalie this season.

Both teams are loaded at forward.

The Blades front end features captain Trevor Wong, who had 101 points in the regular season coming off 15 goals and 86 assists, star right-winger Egor Sidorov, who has 50 goals and 88 points in the regular season and star left-winger Brandon Lisowsky, who had 42 goals and 80 points in the regular season.

Saskatoon’s other top players up front include star centre Fraser Minten, who is a big prospect of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, Alexander Suzdalev, star overage left-winger Easton Armstrong, while Vaughn Watterodt, Lukas Hansen and Rowan Calvert provide great depth.

The Blades will be without Armstrong for the first two games of the Eastern Conference final as he finishes out a four-game suspension for receiving a charging major and a game misconduct in the Blades 2-1 overtime win over the Red Deer Rebels at home on April 14. 

Armstrong was given his infractions in Game 2 of the series with the Rebels after he bowled over Red Deer netminder Chase Wutzke.

The Warriors counter with 19-year-old star centre Jagger Firkus up front, who lead the WHL in regular season scoring with 126 points coming off 61 goals and 65 assists. Atley Calvert, who is a 20-year-old centre, had 47 goals and 95 points in the regular season for the Warriors, while centre Brayden Yager, who turned 19-years-old in January, had 35 goals and 95 points in the regular season.

Moose Jaw’s other top players up front include savvy veteran Matthew Savoie, Brayden Schuurman and Czech import Martin Rysavy, while Lynden Lakovic, Pavel McKenzie, Rilen Kovacevic and Ethan Semeniuk provide sound depth.

Trevor Wong posted 101 points in the regular season.

Both squads are sound on defence.

The Blades have no problem rolling out a group of seven on the back end in Tanner Molendyk, Charlie Wright, Ben Saunderson, John Babcock, Grayden Siepmann, Nicholas Andrusiak and Morgan Tastad. The Warriors counter with captain Denton Mateychuk, Kalem Parker, Lucas Brenton, Connor Schmidt and Czech product Vojtech Port.

In goal, the starters for both teams weren’t WHL starters a season ago. All eyes will be focusing to see how they handle the bright lights of the Eastern Conference final.

Evan Gardner had an outstanding breakout rookie campaign for the Blades. Gardner, who turned 18-years-old in January, appeared in 30 regular season games for the Blades posting a 21-5-2 record, a 1.91 goals against average, a .927 save percentage and four shutouts. The Fort St. John, B.C., product’s goals against average was the lowest in the WHL and his save percentage topped the circuit.

In the WHL Playoffs, Gardner has appeared in eight games for the Blades posting a 7-0 record, a 1.66 goals against average, a .928 save percentage and one shutout.

Unger is in his third season with the Warriors, and he has improved as he has carried the starter’s load in the 2023-24 campaign. In 54 appearances in the regular season, Unger, who turned 19-years-old in January, posted a 35-15-2 record, a 3.08 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and three shutouts. 

In nine appearances in the WHL Playoffs, Unger has posted an 8-1 record, a 3.29 goals against average, a .903 save percentage.

Jagger Firkus topped the WHL in regular season scoring.

If Gardner struggles, the Blades can turn to a star backup in Austin Elliott. Elliott, who is 19-years-old, was the Blades starter through the regular season and started the first game of the post-season dropping a 4-3 decision to the Prince Albert Raiders at the SaskTel Centre.

If Unger falters, the Warriors would have to turn to 17-year-old rookie Dimitri Fortin or have to dress 19-year-old veteran Evan May.

Going into Eastern Conference final, one would have to give the Blades the edge in net with Gardner’s performance this season and the fact the Blades can turn to Elliott if need be.

Still, the opportunity is there for the netminders on either side to create a reputation at the WHL level of being a championship level clutch puck stopper. Now we get to see who will be “the guy” in net and take their game to the next level.

Cougars, Winterhawks battle for Western Conference title

Zac Funk led the WHL with 67 goals in the regular season.

The heavyweight showdown that was expected at the start of the WHL Playoffs will take place in the WHL’s Western Conference Championship Series.

The Prince George Cougars will face the Portland Winterhawks in a best-of-seven set to determine who advances to the WHL Championship Series. Game 1 is set for Friday at 7 p.m. local time at the CN Centre in Prince George.

The Cougars finished second overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 49-15-1-3 mark and have gone 8-1 in the post-season. Prince George topped the final CHL Top 10 Rankings.

The Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 mark and have won all eight of their outings in the post-season. Portland was rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings.

The Cougars are making their first appearance in the Western Conference final since 2007. The Cougars franchise has won one WHL title coming back in 1981, when the club was located in Victoria.

Since setting up shop in Portland on June 11, 1976, the Winterhawks have been one of the WHL’s most storied teams winning three league titles in 1982, 1998 and 2013. They also captured the Memorial Cup as CHL champions on two occasions in 1983 and 1998.

This will be Portland’s first appearance in the Western Conference final since 2015.

The Winterhawks were the original Edmonton Oil Kings franchise that existed in the Alberta capital from 1950 to 1976. During those years as the Oil Kings, the franchise claimed WHL titles in 1971 and 1972. The franchise won Memorial Cup titles in 1963 and 1966 before the WHL played its inaugural campaign in 1966-67.

Gabe Klassen had 106 points in the regular season.

Zac Funk, who is the Cougars 20-year-old star right-winger, topped the WHL regular season with 67 goals and finished second in scoring with 123 points. Forwards Riley Heidt, Terik Parascak and Ondrej Becher give the Cougars high end firepower up front.

Hudson Thornton, who is 20-years-old, topped the Cougars in defence scoring with 74 points coming off 18 goals and 56 assists.

Joshua Ravensbergen has had a breakout season as a 17-year-old rookie netminder for the Cougars. In 38 appearances in the regular season, Ravensberger posted a 26-4-2 record, a 2.46 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and six shutouts.

Star 20-year-old centre Gabe Klassen led the Winterhawks in regular season scoring with 106 points coming off 35 goals and 71 assists. James Stefan, Nate Danielson and Josh Davies give the Winterhawks explosive firepower up front.

Star 19-year-old defenceman Luca Cagnoni topped the WHL in defence scoring during the regular season with 90 points coming off 18 goals and 72 assists.

Jan Spunar, who is the Winterhawks star Czech import netminder, has had a stellar campaign. In 35 appearances in the regular season, he posted a 25-6-3 record, a 2.12 goals against average, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts.

Due to the distance between Prince George and Portland, the Western Conference Championship Series will be conducted in a two-three-two format. The Cougars host Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, while the Winterhawks host Games 3, 4 and 5.

Overall, this series has the potential to be an all-time classic.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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