SASKATOON 5
VICTORIA 4 (OT)
The Saskatoon Blades have hit on a template that works for them in the WHL this season and rather well. The Blades, a charter member of the WHL since 1966-67, are the No. 2-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League top-10 poll behind the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major-Junior Hockey League. There are only a few stars, such as Toronto Maple Leafs second-round draft pick Fraser Minten and Washington Capitals third-round draft pick Alexander Suzdalev, both acquired recently in trades. And goaltender Evan Gardner is the only Saskatoon player on the Central Scouting mid-season rankings released Friday for the NHL draft.
It is more a complete team approach by the Blades and Victoria Royals head coach James Patrick was not underestimating it heading into Saturday night’s game in Saskatoon: “They are the best team in the league and a really big test. I feel if we play the right way we can play with any team in this league, [but] we are going to have to play our best game possible.”
The Blades recorded a 5-4 overtime victory over the Royals. Saskatoon native Logan Pickford’s goal for Victoria with 35 seconds remaining in the third period sent the game to OT as the Royals overcame a 4-1 deficit.
The Royals completed their five-game bus trip through the East Division and will return to Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre for a bit of Sportsnet national broadcast limelight next Saturday against the Kamloops Blazers on Hockey Day in Canada.
“We feel like we’re in a playoff drive because we know how fast this second half goes,” said Patrick, whose club is top-five in the Western Conference standings.
