Steve Hiscock/Saskatoon Blades

Blades take 1-0 series lead over the Warriors

SASKATOON-3 MOOSE JAW- 2  F/OT

Saskatoon leads series 1-0.

Is there anything more fitting than overtime to end a six-year playoff drought? How about the longest tenured Blade getting the winner? For the first time since 2013 the Saskatoon Blades took part in a playoff game and it did not disappoint. A little bit of nerves at first but an entertaining hockey game.

“Took us a little longer than we would have liked, they (Moose Jaw) came out with a bit of juice, I thought we were a little nervous and hesitant in our game and we found a way,” said Blades head coach Mitch Love who got his first ever playoff win.

In the first period it was a tight checking affair. The shots seven minutes into the period were just 3-1 in favour of the Warriors. The Blades came out physical with big hits from Riley McKay, Chase Wouters and Aiden De La Gorgendiere. Randen Schmidt took the game’s first penalty on the backcheck as he tripped up a Moose Jaw forward. The Blades penalty kill bent but didn’t break. The Warriors hit two posts right at the start of the power play but no dice. Moose Jaw headed back to the power play with just over a minute left in the period as Nolan Kneen was called for a cross check, but the Blades penalty kill stayed strong to end the period. Shots at the end of the first were 14-11 Moose Jaw.

Allen Douglas Photo

The Warriors started the second period on the power play, but the Blades penalty kill stayed strong. Moose Jaw got the game’s first goal three minutes into the period. Saskatoon failed to clear the puck as Luke Ormsby picked up and shot the rebound bounced over the stick of Nolan Kneen and Kaeden Taphorn got the goal. Just 1:34 later it was 2003-born Eric Alarie getting his first ever WHL goal in his third career game. Josh Brook took the Warriors first penalty of the game as he interfered Gary Haden and the Blades headed to the power play. Max Gerlach got the momentum back for Saskatoon as a puck bounced to him and he hammered it home to cut the lead to one. Brandon Schuldhaus nailed Yegor Buyalski with a clean check, that set off Dalton Hamaliuk as he went after Kirby Dach and Saskatoon headed to the power play but couldn’t capitalize. The shots in the second were 14-6 Saskatoon.

The third period was all Saskatoon. Just like a few weeks ago the Warriors did not generate much offense. The first 10 minutes of the period was similar to the first 10 minutes of the first with not much going on until Kirby Dach took over. With just under 10 minutes to play Dach picked up the puck behind the net and went end to end to create a good chance. The puck ended up at the point and it was Brandon Schuldhaus whose point shot was deflected by Dach and off Salmond right to Riley McKay who scored five hole to tie the game. Shots in the third were 10-2 Saskatoon.

It took just 3:23 of extra time to finish this game. Gary Haden passed to Chase Wouters In the neutral zone and Wouters took it outside and sneaked it in between the post and Brodan Salmond who laid on the ice in disbelief long after the puck was in.

“It’s a pretty crazy feeling and something I’ll never forget that’s for sure. It was a lot of hard work all game and we got rewarded. I was just trying to get a rebound,” said Wouters after his first ever playoff game.

Warriors Rookie Forward Brayden Tracey missed the game with injury. Game 2 goes Saturday night in Saskatoon.