The Saskatoon Blades had five different goal scorers in Tuesday’s 5-3 victory at SaskTel Centre against the Medicine Hat Tigers.
The Blue and Gold battled back from two separate one-goal deficits to go 3-0 on their home-stand and pick up their 14th straight victory over Medicine Hat. The last time the Blades were handed a loss at the hands of the Tigers was December 10, 2019 on home ice. Tonight marked a third straight victory for the Blades, improving their record to 14-5-1-1. The Blades hold a five-point lead on first place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference over the second-place Lethbridge Hurricanes.
19-year-old forward Rowan Calvert and Tyler Parr each finished with a goal and an assist in the win. WHL senior Brandon Lisowsky complimented them with the game-winning goal halfway through the contest, earning him first star on the night. The Port Coquitlam, BC product is tied for ninth in franchise goals with 131 in his career alongside alumnus Brent Ashton. Lisowsky has 245 points (131G, 114A) in 242 career games, all in a Blue and Gold uniform. In 15 games this season, the fifth-year Blades has ten goals and assists.
Sophomore netminder Evan Gardner picked up his tenth win of the year after winning his third consecutive start. The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick stopped 31 of 34 shots, bumping his record to 10-4-1-0. Gardner’s career home record during the regular season sits at 21-0-1-0.
Tigers rookie Liam Ruck opened the scoring 8:16 into the first period. The Osoyoos, BC product’s third goal of the year was assisted by former Prince Albert Raider Ryder Ritchie and Gavin McKenna.
Blades rookie forward David Lewandowski responded 2:21 later, burying his fifth goal of the year into a wide open cage. The NHL draft-eligible forward finished off an impressive rush from rookie defenceman Jordan Martin and rookie forward Zach Olsen to make it 1-1. Olsen’s assist gives him one in three straight contest, moving him to three goals and six helpers in 16 games this season.
Calvert gave the Blades their first lead of the game five minutes later with his team-leading seventh powerplay goal of the season. The third-year Blade potted a backhand past Tigers netminder Harrison Meneghin to reach double-digit goals on the year. Calvert’s four points shy of tying his career-high 25 points set last season in 68 games. 20-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann picked up his 100th career WHL point with an assist on the goal.
The Tigers responded with their second powerplay goal in as many attempts to tie the game 2-2. Defenceman Bryce Pickford netted his eighth goal of the year with 57 seconds remaining in the period to tie the game before intermission.
McKenna regained Medicine Hat’s lead 3:21 into the middle frame with his 14th goal of the year. The projected number one overall pick for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft finished the night with a goal and two assists, padding his WHL scoring lead to 44 points (14G, 30A).
Parr beamed his ninth goal of the season under five minutes later to tie the game 3-3. After scoring two goals in his first nine games of the season, the La Salle, MB product has seven in his last ten. Parr is tied for second in team-scoring alongside Calvert with 21 points (9G, 12A).
Lisowsky’s game-winner came on the man-advantage just after the midway point of the game. The former 40-goal scorer was left all alone in the slot, and the former NHL draft pick took his time to pick the top corner past Meneghin. Saskatoon finished 2/3 on the man-advantage tonight, while the Tigers capitalized on both their opportunities earlier int he game.
Medicine Hat applied pressure throughout the third period, but some gusty defending and clutch saves by Gardner kept them at bay. 19-year-old forward Misha Volotovskii made it 5-3 Saskatoon with an empty-net goal in the final 1:28. The tally ended an 18-game goalless drought for the fourth-year Blade.
What’s Next?
The Blades hit the road Thursday for a game against the Moose Jaw Warriors at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
