nivek_wahs
02-03-2007, 07:15 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=cb094caa-9eee-47a8-95ee-efd80e1f34da
Blades' offence hide and seek
Rebels 4, Blades 1
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, February 03, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades wore camouflaged jerseys Friday and for most of the second period, they were invisible.
The home team started the match strong and ended with a flurry. The middle frame wasn't so flattering. Saskatoon registered just one shot through the first 14 minutes of the second period.
The Blades fell behind 2-1 after 40 minutes and never caught up. The Red Deer Rebels posted a 4-1 win at Credit Union Centre and Brent Sutter earned his 300th Western Hockey League coaching victory.
"We got three out of four points on the road and then we come back here and we were a bit soft in some areas," said Blades captain Brad Cole. "We had bad turnovers at the blue-line at both ends of the ice and that's what cost us. It comes down to little things.
"Guys have to look deep inside because every point counts right now."
Saskatoon (20-27-2-1) remains fifth in the tight East Division. The Blades started the night eight points out of second. Red Deer (27-20-3-4) is clinging to a playoff spot int the tough Central Division.
Dustin Moore opened the scoring at 8:54 of the second on a Red Deer power play. After first putting the puck off the side of the post, Moore buried a second attempt.
Saskatoon countered less than six minutes later as Colton Gillies's slapshot found a gap stick-side on Morgan Clark.
Penalties quickly killed the home side's momentum, though.
Ryan Menei went off for tripping and 21 seconds later, Cole drew a delay-of-game penalty for firing the puck out of play. The Rebels didn't waste the 5-on-3 opportunity. Brandon Sutter used a mess of bodies as a screen and floated a point shot over goalie Braden Holtby's glove.
Red Deer finished 2-for-7 on the power play. Saskatoon was 0-for-3.
The Blades have not beaten the Rebels in three tries this season, but Red Deer head coach Brent Sutter said Saskatoon looked vastly improved from the blue crew that lost 6-1 in Red Deer on Dec. 5.
"They're competing hard and they're a better hockey team," said Sutter. "They made some changes and with a young team, just getting experience alone as you go along, you get better and better and you see improvement in your players."
The Blades buzzed around the Red Deer goal in the third, but they failed to net the equalizer. Rebels captain Brett Sutter upped the lead to 3-1 with 6:28 left in regulation and then Moore scored his second of the night into an empty net.
Red Deer outshot Saskatoon 24-21.
ICE CHIPS: Menei had his 10-game points streak snapped . . . Rebels captain Ted Vandermeer left the game in the first period after going into the boards awkwardly. Vandermeer attempted to skate to the bench under his own power, but he had to be helped off the ice . . . Prior to tonight's game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the Blades will honour former coach and GM Daryl Lubiniecki. Former Blades expected to attend include Wendel Clark, Kelly Chase, Brian Skrudland and Trent Yawney . . . Red Deer played without C Pierre-Paul Lamoureux on Friday. He was suspended earlier in the day for his part in Wednesday's late line brawl against Swift Current. The length of Lamoureux's suspension has not been decided. He received a match penalty for attempt to injure. Swift Current C Jeremy Schenderling was suspended one game. The Rebels won that contest 6-1.
cwolfe@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007
Blades' offence hide and seek
Rebels 4, Blades 1
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, February 03, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades wore camouflaged jerseys Friday and for most of the second period, they were invisible.
The home team started the match strong and ended with a flurry. The middle frame wasn't so flattering. Saskatoon registered just one shot through the first 14 minutes of the second period.
The Blades fell behind 2-1 after 40 minutes and never caught up. The Red Deer Rebels posted a 4-1 win at Credit Union Centre and Brent Sutter earned his 300th Western Hockey League coaching victory.
"We got three out of four points on the road and then we come back here and we were a bit soft in some areas," said Blades captain Brad Cole. "We had bad turnovers at the blue-line at both ends of the ice and that's what cost us. It comes down to little things.
"Guys have to look deep inside because every point counts right now."
Saskatoon (20-27-2-1) remains fifth in the tight East Division. The Blades started the night eight points out of second. Red Deer (27-20-3-4) is clinging to a playoff spot int the tough Central Division.
Dustin Moore opened the scoring at 8:54 of the second on a Red Deer power play. After first putting the puck off the side of the post, Moore buried a second attempt.
Saskatoon countered less than six minutes later as Colton Gillies's slapshot found a gap stick-side on Morgan Clark.
Penalties quickly killed the home side's momentum, though.
Ryan Menei went off for tripping and 21 seconds later, Cole drew a delay-of-game penalty for firing the puck out of play. The Rebels didn't waste the 5-on-3 opportunity. Brandon Sutter used a mess of bodies as a screen and floated a point shot over goalie Braden Holtby's glove.
Red Deer finished 2-for-7 on the power play. Saskatoon was 0-for-3.
The Blades have not beaten the Rebels in three tries this season, but Red Deer head coach Brent Sutter said Saskatoon looked vastly improved from the blue crew that lost 6-1 in Red Deer on Dec. 5.
"They're competing hard and they're a better hockey team," said Sutter. "They made some changes and with a young team, just getting experience alone as you go along, you get better and better and you see improvement in your players."
The Blades buzzed around the Red Deer goal in the third, but they failed to net the equalizer. Rebels captain Brett Sutter upped the lead to 3-1 with 6:28 left in regulation and then Moore scored his second of the night into an empty net.
Red Deer outshot Saskatoon 24-21.
ICE CHIPS: Menei had his 10-game points streak snapped . . . Rebels captain Ted Vandermeer left the game in the first period after going into the boards awkwardly. Vandermeer attempted to skate to the bench under his own power, but he had to be helped off the ice . . . Prior to tonight's game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the Blades will honour former coach and GM Daryl Lubiniecki. Former Blades expected to attend include Wendel Clark, Kelly Chase, Brian Skrudland and Trent Yawney . . . Red Deer played without C Pierre-Paul Lamoureux on Friday. He was suspended earlier in the day for his part in Wednesday's late line brawl against Swift Current. The length of Lamoureux's suspension has not been decided. He received a match penalty for attempt to injure. Swift Current C Jeremy Schenderling was suspended one game. The Rebels won that contest 6-1.
cwolfe@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007