Streaking Blades finally exposed

By Les Lazaruk

BRANDON – The result was as predictable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

The Saskatoon Blades had their seven-game winning streak come to an end Sunday in a 5-3 setback to the Brandon Wheat Kings, as the Bridge City Bunch played their third game in less than 48 hours while Brandon had been sitting idle waiting for this game since beating visiting Swift Current on Friday

Ty Lewis’ second goal of the game, on a seeing-eye shot through traffic that squeezed through Blue and Gold goaltender Ryan Kubic and just over the goal line, snapped a 3-3 tie with 1:56 remaining in the third period.

“It was good to see us battle back,” said Blades Assistant Coach Bryce Thoma. “Down 3-1 (after the first period), you battle back and show some good character from the guys…takes the quit out and that was great to see.”

Lewis opened the scoring with Saskatoon on their only power play of the contest.

Braylon Shmyr tied the score with 2:04 remaining in the opening frame only to have Brandon retake the lead 34 seconds later on a goal from Connor Gutenberg. Tanner Kaspick tallied another 43 seconds after that. Both Wheaties goals came on similar plays with the scorer coming through free into the slot, taking a pass and deking to the backhand before lifting a shot high over Bridge City Bunch goaltender Ryan Kubic.

Chase Wouters scored late in the second period and just past the mid-point of the third stanza to knot the score, setting the stage for Lewis’ heroics. Stelio Mattheos added an empty net goal as Brandon won to improve their record to 27-12-1 and 18-3-1 on home ice. The Wheat Kings outshot the Blue and Gold 30-18 and 12-3 in the third period.

It was a tough-luck loss for Kubic on his 20th birthday. The St. Andrews, Man., product made his first start since December 16, which was a 5-0 home-ice setback to Kelowna. That was the last Blades loss prior to Sunday. Since suffering a lower body injury Nov. 18 at Moose Jaw, those are the only two games the former Vancouver Giant has played with 16-year-old Nolan Maier having been in goal for a current, personal 10-game winning straight streak and starting 19 of the last 21 games for Saskatoon.

“Definitely, there was two or three saves to start the second period where it would’ve been 4-1as opposed to just being down one going into the third period,” explained Thomas.

The Bridge City Bunch are idle until Wednesday when they begin a run of four consecutive games against Central Division opposition by hosting the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Pacman Points – The Blades were assessed five of six minor penalties in the game. As a result, over the three games-in-three days weekend, Saskatoon was on the power play just four times total.

The Bridge City Bunch left defenceman Libor Hajek back in Saskatoon. By playing Saturday against Kootenay, the Czech blueliner had played three games in three days already, including Thursday’s World Junior Hockey Championship semifinal loss to Canada and the Friday bronze medal game setback to the United States. Randen Schmidt drew back into the Blue and Gold lineup after sitting out Saturday while right wingers Kirby Dach (upper body) and Caleb Fantillo (lower body) continue to be sidelined.

Also at home is Brandon defenceman and Team Canada junior gold medallist Kale Clague. He is in his hometown of Lloydminster and has yet to rejoin the Wheat Kings following completion of the tournament. Brandon also scratched right winger Rylan Bettens (lower body injury) and left winger Ben McCartney (coaches decision).

Logan Thompson made 15 saves in goal for the Wheaties while playing in his 100th career game. Also hitting the century mark in career games Sunday were Blades right winger Michael Farren and Brandon forward Cole Reinhardt.

The busiest individual shooters were Wheat Kings defenceman James Shearer with six shots on goal while Brandon captain Kaspick chipped in with five. Shmyr topped Saskatoon with three shots on goal.

The Bridge City Bunch won 27-of-47 faceoffs for the 60 minutes with 17-year-old rookie Brandon Machado winning five of seven trips to the dot. Kaspick paced the Wheaties by capturing possession on 10-of-13 draws.