The last time the Calgary Hitmen hosted the Saskatoon Blades it was a one-sided affair from the get-go. Despite a much different game, the Saskatoon Blades once again came out on top and received great performances from Eric Florchuk and Nolan Maier. At the end of the game, it was the simple defensive mistakes and miscommunications of the Hitmen that gave the Saskatoon Blades the edge on Saturday night.
A fast start to the first frame with the Hitmen controlling play in the offensive zone was quickly ended when Carson Focht was sent off for tripping under a minute into play. Calgary was successful on the first penalty kill allowing two relatively innocent shots. This kill did generate momentum for Calgary, however, not enough to get any pucks past Nolan Maier.
As the period went on both clubs worked on wearing down the opposition with very physical play including several massive checks which only seemed fitting on Bret “The Hitman” Hart Night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Past the midway point of the period, Jackson Van De Leest was called for Interference after a failed pinch attempt by Riley Stotts caused an odd-man rush. Despite a rather uneventful start to the Blades powerplay, Tristen Robins capitalized late on the man advantage off a juicy Kyle Crnkovic rebound which he slapped home. The score remained 1-0 for Saskatoon as the first frame came to a close.
After a first period that saw very physical play, the theme of the second was very different as speed was showcased by both clubs. Calgary came out of the gate with an immediate offensive advantage and a number of quality opportunities where the bounces went in favor of Nolan Maier and the Saskatoon Blades.
It wasn’t until 9:18 into the second that the Hitmen were able to get on the board thanks to Blake Allan who scored his first in a Hitmen sweater. The newly acquired centreman pounced on a puck that slid out of Nolan Maier’s control to tie the contest at one. Immediately after the goal Randen Schmidt and Tye Carriere were sent off with roughing coincidental minors. The Blades used their speed and the extra ice to tire the Calgary four-on-four unit and caused Dakota Krebs to get called for a high sticking infraction in the meantime. Calgary managed to kill the penalty off and keep the game even at a goal apiece heading into the third.
The final frame started on a rough note for Calgary as Eric Florchuk who was a standout in the last game between the two teams scored just 48 seconds in. Jack McNaughton made the initial stop off the Florchuk shot which came from a poor angle, but the puck trickled through and just over the goal line to reclaim a one-goal lead for the Blades.
The early struggle continued for the Hitmen as miscommunication was an issue until the ten-minute mark when things turned around. The Hitmen began applying pressure and generating quality scoring chances and in doing so tied the game at two off a Mark Kastelic goal. With the captain’s goal, Kastelic tied Cody Sylvester for fifth all-time in Calgary Hitmen scoring with 97 tallies.
Calgary continued to pour on the pressure and forced a Saskatoon timeout with just over seven minutes remaining.
Unfortunately for the Hitmen, this break strongly benefitted the Blades. With just 6:19 remaining the Blades took off on an odd-man rush where Florchuk then ripped a wrist shot past Jack McNaughton’s blocker side to once again retake the one-goal lead while recording his second goal of the night.
Despite an aggressive last-minute offensive push to tie the game, the Hitmen were unable to beat Saskatoon goaltender and third star of the night Maier as the Blades held on for the 3-2 win.
The Hitmen will look to rebound from the loss to Saskatoon on Sunday when the Edmonton Oil Kings visit the Saddledome.
The Hitlist:
- Eric Florchuk has five of his eight goals in two games against the Hitmen with first star honours on both occasions.
- Mark Kastelic has nine goals in nine games and is now only two points back of Michael Stone for 15th on the all-time Calgary Hitmen points list.
