Blades Hand BWK Sunday Afternoon Loss

Photo by Brandi Crowe

Saskatoon, SK (CKLQ) – Josh Paterson had a goal and an assist as the Saskatoon Blades earned a 5-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Sunday afternoon.

It was a quick start for the Wheat Kings as Ben McCartney lit the lamp just 0:53 into the hockey game. The Portage, MB native took a pass from Luka Burzan and sniped his 9th of the year over the glove of Yorkton’s Nolan Maier.

Just three minutes later the Blades would respond as Max Gerlach finished off a two-on-one and slipped his 24th of the season through the five-hole of Jiri Patera, who was making his 2nd consecutive start for Brandon.

After the Blades took the lead, Brandon found themselves on a two-man advantage and made no mistake. Luka Burzan notched his fourth goal in two games to lock the game up at two heading to the intermission.

In the second, the Blades regained the lead on the powerplay. Josh Paterson whacked away at the pads of Patera and finally jarred the puck loose and into the back of the Brandon net to give the Blades their 2nd lead of the game.

Late in the period, Baron Thompson hit Majid Kaddoura along the benches and was assessed a five-minute major for checking to the head. Brandon’s penalty killers did an excellent job limiting the Blades chances and keeping them from adding the insurance marker they needed.

Saskatoon would add two more in the third, including an empty-netter to earn their 25th victory of the season.

Nolan Maier finished the night with 25 saves while Jiri Patera turned aside 32 shots in the losing effort.

Following the game, the Wheat Kings will head home and welcome the Portland Winterhawks on Tuesday (7:00 on QCountry Radio).

SCORING SUMMARY

1st PERIOD

BWK – Ben McCartney (9) (Burzan) 0:53

SAS – Max Gerlach (24) (Wouters, Haden) 3:52

SAS – Reece Harsch (3) (Patterson, Schuldhaus) 7:30

BWK – Luka Burzan (23) (Mattheos, Wytinck) 19:16 5on3

Shots: 11-9 Saskatoon

2nd PERIOD

SAS – Josh Paterson (13) (Florchuk, Crnkovic) 3:27 PPG