No dice for Ice vs. Blades

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This article was published 31/03/2021 (1961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Ice put in a valiant effort to slow the hard-charging Saskatoon Blades Wednesday night.

Trouble is, they were quickly running out of healthy bodies and a growing player shortage made the task more difficult.

With four forwards listed on the pre-game injury report and star defenceman Carson Lambos done for the season with an unspecified ailment, the Ice also lost top pairing defenceman Nolan Orzeck to an apparent knee injury early in the second period of a 3-2 loss to the Blades at the WHL East Division hub in Regina.

Saskatoon, off to the best start in franchise history, improved to 9-0-1-0 while the Ice fell to 6-4-0-0. Winnipeg caused the only blemish on the Blades record, beating them 2-1 in overtime on March 17.

“It’s unfortunate losing a guy like Orzy, he plays a lot of minutes for our group but we’re just hoping he’s all right,” said veteran Ice right-winger Connor McClennon, whose third-period goal made for an interesting finish to the game. “I think overall a lot of guys stepped up on the back end, playing some big minutes. It’s definitely unfortunate (that he got hurt) but I think our group did a good job sticking with it.”

Anderson MacDonald scored his second of the season midway through the first period on a nice setup from Jakin Smallwood, giving the Ice an early 1-0 lead.

But the Blades answered quickly, with rookie forward Brandon Lisowsky tying the game 1-1 with his fourth before the intermission break.

Kyle Crnkovic, with his fourth, beat Winnipeg goalie Gage Alexander with a long drive 3:24 into middle period and Colton Dach, younger brother of Chicago Blackhawks star Kirby Dach, potted his seventh on a power play at 9:48.

Then McClennon scored his fifth from a goal-mouth scramble to pull Winnipeg to within one

With his club was pressing for a tying goal in the final minutes, veteran Ice blue-liner Mike Ladyman took a heavy hit into the side boards and glass. He left the game but returned after a brief absence for another shift. His playing status was unknown.

Next up for Winnipeg is a Friday matchup with the Prince Albert Raiders. The Ice come right back Saturday with another game against the Regina Pats yet McClennon insisted the heavy schedule should not be an issue.

“Our group had some good energy tonight from the guys,” he said. “I think every team is going through the same thing — rest can’t be an excuse so I think just going out there and playing and getting some good rest tonight, get a good practice in tomorrow and regroup for Friday.”

Nolan Maier made 29 stops for the Blades. Alexander finished with 25 saves.

BLUE-LINES: Saskatoon centre Chase Wouters was serving the first game of a three-game suspension after being assessed a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct Monday against Prince Albert while Blades defenceman Rhett Rhinehart sat out the first of a two-game sentence for supplemental discipline for actions in the same game… Meanwhile, Moose Jaw’s Josh Hoekstra will serve two games of supplemental discipline, presumably for his dangerous hit on Winnipeg rookie Conor Geekie Sunday.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14

Hoekstra was only assessed a minor for checking from behind at the time…. Winnipeg went 0-for-3 on the power play. It was the first time in 10 games the Ice haven’t scored with a man advantage… Saskatoon scored once in four chances… Peyton Krebs registered an assist on the McClennon goal to extend his point-scoring streak to nine games… Three stars: 1. Nolan Maier, Saskatoon (29 saves); 2. Zach Benson, Winnipeg (two assists); 3. Kyle Crnkovic, Saskatoon (one goal, six shots).

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14