The Winnipeg ICE will be happy to be back home after they dropped their second straight game against Saskatoon on Saturday night.
Saskatoon used two goals each in the second and third as they convincingly picked up their fourth preseason win by a 6-2 scoreline.
Cyle McNabb opened up the scoring 7:02 into the opening frame. Kyle Crnkovic and Brandon Lisowsky had the assists.
Winnipeg will rely heavily on Connor McClennon to provide offence this season and he got the club on the board. With 3:41 left in the first, McClennon scored his second of the preseason to tie the game up at one.
From there, it was all Blades’ for the most part.
Nolan Kneen scored his second of the preseason just 51 seconds later to give Saskatoon a 2-1 lead after 20.
To open up the second, Saskatoon kept their foot on the gas pedal. Riley McKay and Tristen Robins set up Parker Malchuk, who scored his first preseason goal at the 6:47 mark.
With a 3-1 lead, Saskatoon added another before the period was over. This time it was on the powerplay when Riley McKay scored his first of the game to go with an assist. Parker Malchuk and Charlie Wright got the assists to make it 4-1.
Holding that lead into the third, the domination continued early in the final frame for Saskatoon.
Randen Schmidt made it 5-1 with a short handed goal just 2:36 into the period.
Friday’s top game star Colton Dach had the primary and only assist.
It didn’t take the Blades’ long to make it 6-1. Cyle McNabb scored his second of the night with Kyle Crnkovic and Aidan De La Gorgendiere getting the assists at the 4:11 mark.
With 6:16 left in the final period, Jakin Smallwood cut into the deficit with his second of the preseason. Connor McClennon and Carson Lambos earned the assists.
The goal on the power play was the final tally of the game as Saskatoon skated off with a 6-2 win on home ice.
Winnipeg ends the preseason with two straight losses and they finished 1-3. Saskatoon went 4-0-1.
Winnipeg will head to Westoba Place in Brandon on Friday to begin their regular season. They host the back end of a home-and-home on Saturday.
Saskatoon starts their season with a home-and-home against last year’s WHL Champions. Game one goes Friday in Prince Albert.
ICINGS:
- Winnipeg had plenty of power play chances but they struggled. They ended the night going 1-for-7. Saskatoon was solid going 3-for-6.
- Matthew Savoie’s point streak ended at two games.
- Gage Alexander started for Winnipeg in net and he made 14 saves on 18 shots. Will Gurski came in and made four saves on six shots.
- For Saskatoon, Koen MacInnes made 36 saves in the win.
