Hometown kid nets overtime winner, Warriors lead 1-0
Brayden Yager was the hometown hero, albeit for the visiting team in game one of the WHL Eastern Conference Final.
His overtime goal midway through an entertaining extra frame gives the Moose Jaw Warriors a 1-0 series lead in a wild and entertaining game.
“It felt great,” said Yager. “Our line wasn’t too happy with our game and overtime is kind of a reset button. I thought we had a better overtime, and obviously to score in my hometown feels pretty good.”
The Blades opened the scoring when Charlie Wright’s point shot found its way through traffic to beat Jackson Unger on the far side.
Both teams had goalmouth scrambles but the first period ended with the Blades leading 1-0.
Early in the second period, Egor Sidorov took the puck from down low to nearly the blue line, firing a shot that found the top corner for his WHL playoff-leading 11th goal.
But before that goal could be announced, the Warriors capitalized on a defensive error. Brayden Schuurman found himself all alone in front of the net with the puck on his stick and beat Evan Gardner with a calm deke.
“Shifts after goals are very important,” said Blades coach Brennan Sonne. “When you have that momentum and you’re up 2-0, you’ve got to play right, play harder. Those are important moments in the game.”
Momentum shifted from the Blades to the Warriors in the second period. They were getting more opportunities despite being outshot.
“Once we got that first one, the energy went to our legs for sure,” said Warriors coach Mark O’Leary. “It’s simple things done really well, and that first goal was a good reminder of what we need to do and it was a big one for us.”
Atley Calvert was able to shake his defender for enough time to get a stick on Matthew Savoie’s shot from the boards, and it deflected over Gardner’s shoulder to tie the game near the midway point.
Blades head coach Brennan Sonne called a timeout to reset his team.“It was more just a call-back to what we prepared for,” he said.
“The momentum was definitely swinging in their direction at that point in time,” said Charlie Wright, who had a goal in game one. “Sonne let us know what we needed to clean up, and I thought we went back out and we flipped it right away.”
In the third period, it seemed the game was destined for overtime until there were five minutes left.
The Warriors would continue to pour on the forechecking, eventually leading to Matthew Savoie’s 8th of the playoffs.
Pavel Mckenzie got to a loose puck first, and an impressive backhand pass found a streaking Savoie to give the Warriors their first lead of the game.
But with the Blades goalie pulled, the entire building knowing where the puck was going, Egor Sidorov would not be denied. His one-timer shot from the same spot he’s scored dozens this season tied the game again with a little more than a minute left, guaranteeing the first game would see overtime.
In overtime, both teams had chances and both goalies stood tall. But it was Brayden Yager in his hometown who got a pass from Jagger Firkus at the top of the faceoff circles, and he sent it over Gardner’s shoulder to win game one.
“It’s playoff hockey, it’s about how quick you can get the puck from the outside of the ice to the middle and on net,” said Yager of the Warriors’ ability to get offensive chances.
“There’s a lot of things that we didn't like in our game early on,” said O’Leary. “But the resiliency of this group comes through again, and what a way to end it.”
Game two goes Saturday night in Saskatoon before the series goes to Moose Jaw on Tuesday and Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.