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Entries for December 11, 2007
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Blades Host Pats Wednesday
Posted by Les Lazaruk on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 08:12:00 PM.
The Contest: Saskatoon Blades (11-19-1-0) vs Regina Pats (21-13-0-1)...7:05 p.m. at Credit Union Centre.
The Log: The Blades started with a 3-10-1-0 record in their first 14 games…nine of them on the road, including the five-game U.S. Division road trip in which the Blades went “oh-fer”. In that time, they were out-scored 52-35 by the opposition. Since then, the Blades are 8-9-0-0 and have been out-scored 51-38. Between a 2-15-1-0 road record and not having won a game, in six starts, against Western Conference teams…throw in only scoring an average of 2.34 goals per games…and you have a pretty good idea why the Blades sit 15 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference…while being tied for last place with Red Deer.
This is the final week of games before the Christmas break for the Blades. After tonight, Saskatoon travels to Brandon Friday and hosts Kelowna Saturday. The Blades first game after Christmas is in Prince Albert on December 27th.
The Blades' home record is 9-4-0-0…including two consecutive victories at the C.U.C. in which they’ve out-scored the opposition 7-2. The Blades’ last home loss was November 17th, 2-1 vs Calgary.
This is the third of eight games this season between the Blades and the Pats.
October 5 at S'toon; 7-3 Blades: Five unanswered third period goals propelled the Blades to victory. Gillies 2+3=5, GWG; Fiala 2+2=4; Shots 39-35 S’toon.
November 9 at Regina: 5-2 Pats: Pyett 2+1=3, GWG; Kraus 0+3=3; Shots 35-28 Regina.
The next game between these teams is Saturday, December 29th at Credit Union Centre.
The Blades' record in December is 1-2-0-0.
The Blades are 0-1 in overtime…1-0 in the shootout.
Today and Yesterday: At 11-19-1-0 after 31 games, the Blades are 6 points ahead of last year's team (8-22-0-1). In game 32 last year, the Blades beat Moose Jaw 6-1 at home to run their record to 9-22-0-1.
The Infirmary: The Blades have lost 68 man-games to injury or illness so far this season. Out of the line-up tonight will be 1988 C Justin McCrae (groin pull, missing a 3rd straight game, status day-to-day); 1987 C Chris Durand (shoulder, 8th game, after Xmas); 1990 RW Kevin Philp (broken jaw, wires come out Friday, 7th game, 2-4 weeks); 1990 D Brendon Wall (broken jaw, 27th game, 2-4 weeks). Also not available, 1989 W Colton Gillies (at Canada’s World Junior Camp);
Going Good: 1987 LW Ondrej Fiala, drafted by Minnesota Wild in 2nd round of 2006 NHL draft, missed Friday in Brandon with the flu. Was on 5-game points streak (2+7=9). Fiala has 3 insurance goals, tied for 10th in the WHL. 1991 D Stefan Elliott is 6+14=20 for the season, tied for 10th in rookie scoring in the WHL.
Going Bad: 1990 C Gaelan Patterson is goal-less in 23 games; 1989 LW Jordan Braid is point-less in 20 games; 1990 C Travis Toomey is goal-less in 18 games and point-less in 10 games; 1988 C Mike Reich has yet to record a point in 9 games as a Blade since being acquired from Vancouver…overall is point-less in 17 games; 1989 RW Kirk Belyk is goal-less in 13 games, point-less in 12 games; 1988 LW Garrett Klotz is point-less in 11 games.
Special Teams: The Blades were 0-for-4 on the power play Friday at Brandon, ending a string of 5 straight games with at least 1 power play goal scored. Saskatoon killed off 3 of 4 Wheat Kings power plays on Friday. Prior to the Brandon PPG, the Blades had killed off 17 straight opposition man-advantages. The Blades have been short-handed 26 more times than they have been on the power play this season (191-165).
Attendance: The Blades have drawn 53,365 fans to 13 games for an average of 4,105 per game.