SASKATOON — With a home game loss, the Saskatoon Blades' local rival secured their path to the playoffs.
The Regina Pats won the Sunday game over the Saskatoon Blades 4-1.
The Blades clinched a playoff spot earlier this season. They were 2-1 last week. As of Monday, Saskatoon had a 46-15-4-1 record. The Blades were third in the conference.
On Sunday in front of a sold out crowd, the Pats got the scoring started with second period goals by Alexander Suzdalev and Tanner Howe. In the third, Blade Brandon Lisowsky scored on the powerplay to pull the home team to within one, 2-1. The Pats responded with goals by Brayden Barnett and Connor Bedard to increase their lead to 4-1. It was Bedard’s 70th goal of the season. Lisowsky scored again but the Blades could not get closer.
Austin Elliott made 18 saves for Saskatoon. For the Pats, Kelton Pyne faced 44 shots and stopped 42 of them.
Last week it was announced that Blades forward Jake Chiasson had signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. It takes effect for the 2023-2024 season. This season Chiasson has 10 goals and 28 points in 37 games.
In the final week of the regular season, the Blades host Regina on Friday. On Saturday, the team plays in Moose Jaw.
On March 15 in Swift Current, the Blades built a 3-1 lead on their way to a 3-2 victory. The game was knotted at 1-1 after the first period. Saskatoon scored twice in the second session. Scoring for the Blades were Trevor Wong, captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere, and Tanner Molendyk. Josh Davies and Josh Filmon had the Broncos’ markers. Austin Elliott stopped 29 shots for Saskatoon. His Swift Current counterpart, Joey Rocha, had 23 saves.
Justin Lies’ second period goal on March 18 helped the Blades to a 3-2 home victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. In the opening session, Charlie Wright and Josh Pillar, on a power play, put Saskatoon up 2-0 by the 12:34 mark. Brandon responded with goals in the final three minutes by Nolan Flamand and Caleb Hadland to knot the game at 2-2 before the first intermission. Saskatoon goalie Ethan Chadwick had 23 saves, while Nicholas Jones stopped 23 shots for Brandon.
