The Saskatoon Blades did just about everything they could to run away with their Western Hockey League contest against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday night, but Dyllan Mingo had other ideas.
The Warriors netminder faced down more than 60 shots but wasn’t able to save the day for the visitors, as Saskatoon scored late in the second period to take a 3-2 victory at SaskTel Centre.
In one other game involving Saskatchewan teams, the Swift Current Broncos continued their solid start to the season with a 4-1 home ice victory over the Regina Pats.
Saskatoon 3, Moose Jaw 2
The Blades offence was relentless on the night, firing 20 or more shots on Mingo in each of the three periods. But the second-year veteran was up to the task on the vast majority of them, eventually finishing with 61 saves.
That wasn’t enough for the win, as Kazden Mathies scored on the power play with 2:37 left in the contest to secure the victory for the Blades,
Isaac Poll got things started for Saskatoon 4:39 into the game and Ben Bowtell made it 2-0 Blades after the first with a power play goal at 16:17.
Moose Jaw battled back, though, as Luke Moroz scored on the man advantage at 2:54 of the second for the only goal of the frame.
Moroz then struck again on the power play 3:38 into the third, setting up the dramatic finish.
Casey Brown had a pair of assists for Moose Jaw.
Martin Psholavec had a far quieter night in Saskatoon’s net, turning aside 21 shots total, fewer than the 23 Mingo faced in the second period alone.
Saskatoon improves to 5-3-1-0 and move into a tie for fourth in the Eastern Conference, Moose Jaw falls to 4-4-0-0 and are in 10th place.
Swift Current 4, Regina 1
A three-goal surge in the second period was enough to secure the Broncos their third straight victory and keep Speedy Creek undefeated at home thus far this season.
Oliver Torkki got things started for the Broncos with the lone goal of the first period 6:17 into the game.
Swift Current then went to work in the final 10 minutes of the second, with Zach Pantelakis scoring with 9:22 remaining in the frame, Ty Meunier with 6:25 to play and Luke Huska with 1:25 remaining to give the Broncos a 4-0 lead.
Maddox Schultz scored for Regina to snap Cal Conway’s shutout bid 3:23 into the third.
Conway finished with 28 saves on the night, Drake Mooney had 25 stops for Regina.
Swift Current is now 7-4-0-0 and have moved into a tie for second in the Conference, Regina drops to 4-4-0-1 and are in ninth.
Up Next
Only one Saskatchewan team is in action on Sunday, as the Prince Albert Raiders are at the Brandon Wheat Kings (3 p.m., Credit Union Place).
