Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk exploded for four points in the Saskatoon Blades 6-2 win Wednesday at Rogers Place against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
The fourth-year defender put on an offensive clinic in the victory, scoring the game-winning goal and adding three assists. Since returning from Predators training camp and preseason, Molendyk has two goals and five assists in four games.
Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Evan Gardner held the fort with 28 saves to pick up his fourth win of the year. The 18-year-old netminder has won his last three starts, allowing just three goals on 68 shots. Through six games, Gardner is 4-1-1-0 with a 2.66 goals against average (GAA), .911 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout to his name.
Saskatoon’s 2007-born rookies David Lewandowski and Jordan Martin netted their first career WHL goals as well. Lewandowski’s tally in the second period gives him points in back-to-back games, and two total through his first three games. The NHL draft-eligible forward spent seven games with Düsseldorf EG in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), Germany's top pro hockey league. Martin one-timed his first goal over the blocker of Oil Kings netminder Hudson Perry in the final frame. The Abbotsford, BC product has three points (1G, 2A) in ten games this season.
The Blades are winners of four straight games and have earned at least a point in five straight. Head coach Dan DaSilva and his club’s torrent 8-1-1-0 start puts them first place in WHL.
Discipline was an issue early on for the Blue and Gold. The first three penalties of the game went against the Blades within the opening 14 minutes. Saskatoon killed off a Molendyk minor penalty for tripping early in the frame, giving them 11 straight successful kills. Oil Kings forward Marshall Finnie ended that streak on his team’s second powerplay of the frame with his first goal of the season 4:01 into the first. Edmonton’s alternate captain has three points in six games this season and put the Blades down 1-0 early.
Rookie forward Zach Olsen evened the game for Saskatoon just over halfway through the opening frame with his second goal of the year. The 6-foot-2 forward barrelled in across the Oil Kings blue line all alone and buried a nice finish on the forehand to give him five points in ten games this season. Third year forward Rowan Calvert earned the primary helper on the goal, extending his point streak to eight games with his first of two points on the evening.
Florida Panthers prospect Gracyn Sawchyn regained the Oil Kings’ one-goal lead 3:05 into the second. The 19-year-old forward finished the night with a goal and an assist, giving him two goals and five assists in five games this season.
Lewandowski collected his first WHL goal 11:12 into the middle frame to bring Saskatoon tied 2-2. The 6-foot-2 forward rifled a shot over the glove of Edmonton netminder Hudson Perry for his second point in three games since joining the Blades in North American last week. The tying tally came on the a powerplay for Saskatoon, who finished 2-for-8 on the man-advantage.
Not long after earning a primary assist on Lewandowski’s tying goal, Molendyk found the back of the net himself just over five minutes late to give the Blades a 3-2 lead. The 5-foot-11 blueliner has two multi-point games in his four appearances since returning from the Predators. After a lacklustre 30 minutes of play, the Blades found their stride heading into the third.
After being busted open by a Sawchyn high stick late in the second, Calvert returned to the Blades bench with stitches and a caged helmet to begin the third. The Moose Jaw, SK native scored his team-leading eighth goal of the year 4:39 into the frame on the powerplay to make it 4-2. Calvert’s fifth powerplay tally sets a new career-high and leads the team in goals on the man advantage.
Martin padded the Blades’ lead to three with his first goal of the season. All three of Martin’s points this season have come in his last six games.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Brandon Lisowsky added one more to the board for Saskatoon just over halfway through the third. The 20-year-old sniper’s second of the season made it 6-2 Blades and secured a two-point night for himself and the team.
The Blades finish their two-game stint in Alberta Saturday night at Peavey Mart Centrium against the Red Deer Rebels.
Puck drop is 7:00pm CST.
