Nino Kinder had a period for the ages and the Winnipeg ICE erupted for seven goals on Friday night as they stunned the host Saskatoon Blades 7-6 inside SaskTel Centre.
Kinder scored three goals in the second period and Winnipeg added another in a game that went back and forth for the entirety of the 60 minutes.
“Tonight was a great reward for a guy that works in both ends of the ice,” said James Patrick on Kinder’s performance, courtesy of Winnipegice.ca
In a game that featured 13 goals, it didn’t take long to find the first of the game. Scott Walford scored his second of the season, beating Dean McNabb 7:05 into the first. Chase Wouters and Cyle McNabb earned the assists.
The Blades kept coming after that. Riley McKay scored his first goal just 1:14 later, unassisted, to give Saskatoon a 2-0 lead.
It sure didn’t take Winnipeg long to strike back. 32 seconds later Owen Pederson set up Nolan Orzeck who beat Nolan Maier to trim the deficit to 2-1.
Goals on the man advantage was the theme for the remainder of the first. At the 13:47 mark, Chase Wouters and Tristen Robins set up Kyle Crnkovic on the power play to make it 3-1 Blades. Crnkovic kept on coming. He scored his second goal of the season just 1:23 after he scored his first to give Saskatoon a 4-1 lead.
With 53 seconds left in the first and while on the power play, Brad Ginnell sent Winnipeg into the dressing room with some confidence as he scored to trim the deficit to 4-2. Connor McClennon and Carson Lambos drew the assists.
That confidence gained late in the first immediately paid off in the second. Just one minute in, Nino Kinder scored his first Western Hockey League goal with fellow Import Michal Teply and Nolan Orzeck getting the assists.
“That was a huge goal from Kinder, getting it early in the second,” said Patrick. “We talked about it after the first, we can beat these guys. That was massive for us.”
In his best game so far as a member of the ICE, Kinder kept on trucking along. He scored his second goal of the night just 4:48 later to tie the game up. Teply earned his second straight assist and Isaac Johnson got the secondary.
At the 12:56 mark, Winnipeg native Mike Ladyman set up James Form who beat Maier to give Winnipeg their first lead of the game at 5-4.
Before the second period was over, Kinder struck again. This goal was also on the power play as the ICE struck for their second time while on the man advantage. Johnson and Ladyman got the assists on the Kinder goal — his third of the night and period. The goal came at the 18:26 mark.
“I have some really good teammates and they really helped me score those three goals,” said Kinder after the game. “We worked really hard and it worked out.”
Trailing 4-2 after 20, Winnipeg now had a 6-4 lead after 40.
Knowing just how good Saskatoon is, Winnipeg needed to add some more offense and they did. Michal Teply scored his third of the young season to give the ICE a 7-4 lead. Isaac Johnson and Austin Schellenberg notched the assists. The goal ended up being the game-winning marker because Saskatoon had a fierce attempt at a comeback late.
With 6:26 left in the game, Scott Walford scored his second of the game with Libor Zabransky getting the lone assist. Down 7-5 with 22 seconds left, Kyle Crnkovic pulled off his own Nino Kinder by scoring his third goal of the game. However, that goal from Crnkovic was the last the Blades scored as they dropped a 7-6 decision on their home ice.
“It’s a pretty good feeling tonight,” said Kinder after the game. “We had a good effort tonight, and we’re looking forward to our next two games this weekend.”
“We wanted to win tonight so we tried hard and it worked,” he concluded.
Winnipeg will continue their Saskatchewan trip. They’re in Prince Albert on Saturday night, and they head to Regina on Saturday afternoon.
Saskatoon, meanwhile, doesn’t play again until Tuesday in Red Deer and Wednesday in Lethbridge.
ICINGS:
- Winnipeg’s two imports at this year’s CHL Import Draft combined for six points. Kinder had three goals while Michal Teply had one goal and two helpers.
- Chase Wouters took the most faceoffs of anyone on either team. He went 23-for-30 and he had two assists on the night.
- Kinder’s career night also included eight shots.
- Winnipeg’s Dean McNabb made a penalty shot save in the second period on Wouters.
- Winnipeg scored a season high while Saskatoon gave up a season high.
