PDA

View Full Version : Blades lose ground in playoff race



nivek_wahs
03-08-2007, 04:09 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=214f1ee2-c700-429b-a7a5-0c0a9b344dec


Blades lose ground in playoff race

Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, March 08, 2007
ICE 7, BLADES 2

The Saskatoon Blades keep flirting, but that darned playoff berth is playing hard to get.

Even though the fourth-place Prince Albert Raiders are in a freefall, having lost 11 of their past 13 games, the Blades have whiffed on the opportunity. Saskatoon (24-38-2-2) remains six points behind Prince Albert (26-35-3-3)

Both teams were pasted Wednesday. The Raiders fell 5-1 in Brandon, while the Blades dropped a 7-2 decision to the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, B.C.

Saskatoon product Steven DaSilva netted the game winner and added an assist for the Ice.

With centre Justin McCrae sidelined by a groin injury, Colton Gillies jumped up to the Blades' top line between Derek Hulak and Ryan Menei. The combination clicked early as Hulak set up Gillies just 2:38 into the match.

That lead evaporated just 28 seconds later, though. Clayton Bauer evened the score 1-1 and Trent Fussi tacked on another for the Ice just before the intermission.

DaSilva pushed the Ice lead to 3-1 eight minutes into the second. After leading a 2-on-1, he used a teammate as a decoy and fired a shot past Garrett Zemlak.

The Blades delivered a swift response. Just seven seconds later, Blair Macaulay got his stick on Kenton Dulle's feed and cut Kootenay's lead to 3-2.

That was the end of the suspense, though, as Kootenay unleashed four unanswered goals. Ryan Russell and Chad Greenan scored 31 seconds apart late in the second. Tylan Stephens and Kevin King added power-play goals in the third.

Zemlak blocked 41 shots for the Blades, while Taylor Dakers stopped 13 for the Ice.

The Blades continue their road trip Friday in Lethbridge, Alta.

BLADE BITS: Play-by-play man Les Lazaruk called his 1,000th Blade game Wednesday. Lazaruk has been the voice of the Blades since the start of the 1994-95 season . . . Rookie D Teigan Zahn returned to Saskatoon's lineup Wednesday after missing 25 games with a broken jaw. C Justin McCrae (groin) and C Chris Cloud (team-imposed discipline) did not play . . . Wednesday's game was, in all likelihood, overage D Brad Cole's last game in Cranbrook. Cole played parts of three seasons with Kootenay before being acquired by the Blades in 2005. Because of a concussion, he missed the Blades' December visit to Cranbrook.

cwolfe@sp.canwest.com

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007

wardenofthepen
03-08-2007, 10:43 AM
good luck brad in your future I counld not make it to game to say in person . from poppy/ wardenofthepen /timekeeper

howley
03-08-2007, 10:52 AM
cloud being disciplined again?? Chris won't be in a Blades uni after this year. Quote me on that one. Whenever Lorne has had an issue with a player he has been quick to move them. IE: Panchyson. Maybe we can trade him to Regina for Eberle. Parker seems to be willing to hand out talent left and right to get some toughness :)

Good to see Zahn back.

Good to see Braid is making the trip.

Has Konecny fallen off the Star Phoenix map or am I missing something here?

bladesvoice
03-08-2007, 12:16 PM
cloud being disciplined again?? Chris won't be in a Blades uni after this year. Quote me on that one. Whenever Lorne has had an issue with a player he has been quick to move them. IE: Panchyson. Maybe we can trade him to Regina for Eberle. Parker seems to be willing to hand out talent left and right to get some toughness :)

Good to see Zahn back.

Good to see Braid is making the trip.

Has Konecny fallen off the Star Phoenix map or am I missing something here?

...especially those of you making the Booster Club bus trip.
Scratched last night in Kootenay...
Bohdan Visnak...gone home to Czech for the season. (shoulder surgery)
Ryan Funk...is with the team but is done for the season. (osteitis pubis, inflammation of the muscles in the lower abdominal, pelvic area...same injury that kept Adrian Foster out a few seasons back.)
Rastislav Konecny...will have the specialist re-evaluate his broken jaw on Saturday. If cleared, he could play next week...not on the trip.
Justin McCrae...painful, nagging groin pull. He's on the trip and wants to play, but might not be cleared to until next week.
Chris Cloud...yes, disciplined again, when he will play again is anyone's guess, but he's not on the trip.
Joe Logan...was ill on the drive to Cranbrook Tuesday and was still in bed most of Wednesday. Tried to go last night, but went back to the hotel after pre-game warm-up when he got sick again. Looked better this morning, will likely play in Lethbridge.
Jordan Braid...I'm not sure why he was listed on the on-line scoresheet because he's not here!

I look forward to seeing the booster club buses as I intend on riding back from Lethbridge to Calgary Friday night after the game on one bus and then on the other one Saturday after the game from Red Deer to Calgary! Safe travels.

Les Lazaruk

Shortys
03-08-2007, 01:36 PM
...especially those of you making the Booster Club bus trip.
Scratched last night in Kootenay...
Bohdan Visnak...gone home to Czech for the season. (shoulder surgery)
Ryan Funk...is with the team but is done for the season. (osteitis pubis, inflammation of the muscles in the lower abdominal, pelvic area...same injury that kept Adrian Foster out a few seasons back.)
Rastislav Konecny...will have the specialist re-evaluate his broken jaw on Saturday. If cleared, he could play next week...not on the trip.
Justin McCrae...painful, nagging groin pull. He's on the trip and wants to play, but might not be cleared to until next week.
Chris Cloud...yes, disciplined again, when he will play again is anyone's guess, but he's not on the trip.
Joe Logan...was ill on the drive to Cranbrook Tuesday and was still in bed most of Wednesday. Tried to go last night, but went back to the hotel after pre-game warm-up when he got sick again. Looked better this morning, will likely play in Lethbridge.
Jordan Braid...I'm not sure why he was listed on the on-line scoresheet because he's not here!

I look forward to seeing the booster club buses as I intend on riding back from Lethbridge to Calgary Friday night after the game on one bus and then on the other one Saturday after the game from Red Deer to Calgary! Safe travels.

Les Lazaruk

Thanks for an actual update Les! It is hard to tell what is happening from the whl injury list, and the star phoenix sometimes. Also Congrats on your 1000th game!!! Great stuff, keep it up, you are a great play by play annoucer!


As for Cloud, this could be bad. I think he is a great power forward, and has great potential, but he keeps breaking team rules, whatever they may be, I cant see Molleken keeping him on board taking up a roster spot. I hope this isn't the case and it's something small that can be worked out, because I love watching Chris play.

howley
03-08-2007, 02:41 PM
Thank you for the update Les. It's not as cool coming from me as it is from Hordichuk or Gainey... but congratulations on your 1000th game.


Are you sure Braid isn't on that trip. Maybe he is sitting at the back of the bus? Jk. I thought it seemed weird that they would have taken him along since the Blazers are in the playoffs. Speaking of...is there any word on Kirk Belyk. I was trying to find out how severe that hit was that he took a little while back. If he missed games with the Blazers, etc. Haven't found anything at this point.

If Cloud isn't on that trip...I'm betting we don't see him again in a Blades uni only cause it was two violations very close together. Who know's though. It's to bad, he's shown a lot of good things this year. Got the skill, sense, hands, toughness, work ethic to make things happen. Only knock on him is he lacks finish. That is something that can be worked on though.

hobster
03-08-2007, 04:31 PM
kirk belyk has been playing http://www.smaaahl.com/

hobster
03-08-2007, 04:35 PM
another thing i found funny haha was braid was listed on the blades roster for last nights game.... but he actually played for the blazers last night, and him and belyk were up to there ussiuall self's as the blazers won 6-5. applause