It took almost 35 minutes for the Saskatoon Blades to score a goal Friday night, but once they did, the Bridge City Bunch were able to get enough to support Austin Elliott’s (pictured) stellar goaltending for a 4-1 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.
With Justen Maric making his first start in goal for Moose Jaw, the Blue and Gold were frustrated by the Warriors’ dogged and determined checking until defenceman Tanner Molendyk scored late in the second period. In the third period, Egor Sidorov’s two goals and blueliner Blake Gustafson’s second of the season sandwiched the only blemish on Elliott’s record for the night, a power play goal by Atley Calvert. The Blades outshot Moose Jaw 33-27 in recording their 40th win of the season. Saskatoon’s third consecutive victory and seventh triumph in their last eight games upped their record to 40-13-5 for 85 points, moving them 12 points ahead of the 35-22-3 Warriors for second place in the East Division and third place in the Eastern Conference. The Blades host Lethbridge Saturday in the second of three games-in-three days for Saskatoon. First face-off is 7 o’clock with CJWW’s broadcast beginning at 6:45 p.m. Following is the official game summary, courtesy the W-H-L, plus the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast and Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Gustafson and forward Rowan Calvert…..
Moose Jaw Warriors 1 at Saskatoon Blades 4 – Status: Final
Friday, March 3, 2023 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Moose Jaw 0 0 1 – 1
Saskatoon 0 1 3 – 4
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-1, Saskatoon, Molendyk 7 (Roulette), 10:10. Penalties-Hansen Sas (hooking), 14:49; Riche Mj (high sticking), 17:57; Chiasson Sas (slashing), 19:48.
3rd Period-2, Saskatoon, Sidorov 36 (Lisowsky), 3:30. 3, Moose Jaw, Calvert 35 (Gallant), 6:58 (PP). 4, Saskatoon, Gustafson 2 12:24. 5, Saskatoon, Sidorov 37 19:50 (EN). Penalties-Shugrue Sas (hooking), 6:33; Niven Mj (roughing), 9:21; Sidorov Sas (10-minute misconduct), 19:50.
Shots on Goal-Moose Jaw 6-7-14-27. Saskatoon 9-11-13-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Moose Jaw 1 / 3; Saskatoon 0 / 2.
Goalies-Moose Jaw, Maric 0-1-0-0 (32 shots-29 saves). Saskatoon, Elliott 21-5-3-0 (27 shots-26 saves).
A-4,277
Referees-Brayden Arcand (71), Austin Weisgerber (131).
Linesmen-Ridge Brooks (161), Devan Thiessen (94).