Evan Gardner collected his second shutout of the season as the Saskatoon Blades blanked the Swift Current Broncos 3-0 Friday at InnovationPlex.
The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick turned aside all 22 Bronco shots to improve to 21-12-3-1. The victory marks Gardner’s fourth win in four consecutive starts and ties his win total set last year during his rookie season. The Fort St. John, BC native now owns six career shutouts in 70 WHL games.
Rookie centre Cooper Williams got the job done on the offensive side of the ice for Saskatoon with one goal and two assists. The 16-year-old centre is tied for the third-most points by a Blades rookie in the last 25 years alongside Martin Erat (1999-00) and Burke Gallimore (2008-09) with 53 (19G, 34A). Since the Christmas break, the Calgary, AB native has 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 33 games.
It’s a massive win for the Blue and Gold, who remain tied for first place in the East Division alongside the Brandon Wheat Kings, who have scored 77 points. Both teams have four games left in the regular season, including one against each other Wednesday, March 19 at Westoba Place in Brandon.
2007-born defenceman Jack Kachkowski scored the lone goal of the first period for Saskatoon after breaking up a scoring chance in his own end seconds prior. The former Medicine Hat Tiger buried his third season goal since joining the Blue and Gold on January 6. Kachkowski’s tally marked the first game-winning goal of his 86-game career.
Despite doubling the Bronco’s six shots in the middle frame, Saskatoon could not extend their lead to two.
The Blades cashed in on their fourth powerplay opportunity of the night 4:31 into the final frame. Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing potted his sixth powerplay goal of the season to give the Blades a 2-0 lead. The reigning WHL Player of the Week has 14 goals and seven assists in 24 games with the Blue and Gold, with six goals and three assists in his last six outings. Williams picked up his second assist of the night, as did NHL draft-eligible forward David Lewandowski.
Williams sealed the deal with an empty-net goal in the final minute of regulation to give the Blades a 4-3-0-1 record against the Broncos this season.
What’s Next?
The Blades welcome the Regina Pats to SaskTel Centre for First Nations Night on Sunday, March 16.
Puck drop is 4:00 p.m.
