SASKATOON —The Saskatoon Blades have stormed back to force a game seven in their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The Red Deer Rebels had won the first three games of the series. Facing elimination every game, the Saskatoon squad has come back with three straight wins. Game seven will be played on Tuesday, April 25, at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon.
Game 6
April 23
Blades 5, Rebels 3
For the third straight game, the Saskatoon squad kept its season alive. The Blades came out strong with first period goals by Egor Sidorov and Trevor Wong.
The host Rebels cut the Blades’ lead to one, 2-1, on a Jace Isley marker with just over five minutes played. The Blades responded with goals by Sidorov, on the powerplay, and Jake Chiasson before Kai Uchaz scored for the Rebels to make the score 4-2 at the second intermission. In the third, Isley scored again for Red Deer while Jayden Wiens added one for Saskatoon.
In net, Saskatoon goalie Austin Elliott made 35 saves. At the other end, Chase Coward stopped 18 for Red Deer.
Game 5
April 21
Blades 6, Rebels 3
With 5,908 looking on, the Blades led 3-2 and 4-3 at the intermissions before scoring twice in the third to win 6-3.
For the hosts, Sidorov lit the lamp twice on the powerplay in the first period with defenceman Tanner Molendyk also chipping in. Red Deer’s Uchacz had two goals in the frame.
In the second session, the Rebels’ Ollie Josephson knotted the game at 3-3. With the man advantage, Aidan De La Gorgendiere put the Blades back in the lead, 4-3, before the second intermission. In the third, Wiens and Molendyk both found the back of the net.
In the win, Ethan Chadwick stopped 14 of the 17 shots he faced. Kyle Kelsey started for Red Deer and made four saves on seven shots. Late in the second period, Coward came on in relief and made 21 saves.
Game 4
April 19
Blades 4, Rebels 2
The Blades prevented a series sweep by scoring four goals in the last two periods to win 4-2 on the road.
In the first period, Uchacz scored once on the powerplay and another at even strength to stake the Rebels to a 2-0 lead. De La Gorgendiere pulled the Blades to within one, 2-1, with a second period powerplay marker.
Wiens tied the game at 2-2 just over four minutes into the third period. Brandon Lisowsky scored 43 seconds later to put the Blades ahead. Molendyk added an insurance goal at the 8:14 mark.
De La Gorgendiere, Lisowsky, and Molendyk each had a goal and an assist. Chiasson recorded two assists.
Chadwick recorded 34 saves. Kelsey made 20 for the Rebels.
Game 3
April 18
Rebels 3, Blades 1
Wong got the scoring started just over five minutes into the second period. The Rebels responded with goals by Frantisek Formanek and Dwayne Jean Jr. before the end of the frame. Kalan Lind scored an empty net goal in the final minute.
Elliottt stopped 23 shots. Kelsey made 22 saves.
