The Saskatoon Blades dropped Tuesday’s contest at SaskTel Centre 5-3 against the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Tonight marked the return to Saskatoon for Nashville Predators defenceman Tanner Molendyk and forward Misha Volotovskii since the blockbuster deal that sent them to Medicine Hat on January 6. Poetically, the latter scored the game-winning goal in the third period against his former team. Molendyk was honoured with a pre-game ceremony, while Volotovskii was recognized for his contributions to the Blue and Gold later in the first period.
Forward Hayden Harsanyi, born in 2007 and who came to Bridge City in the January blockbuster, scored against his former club as well. The Calgary, AB native gave the Blades a 2-1 lead early in the middle frame, giving him three goals in his last two outings. Since joining Saskatoon, Harsanyi has seven goals and ten points in 12 games. The sophomore centre missed significant time during the first half of the season with a lower-body injury, scoring eight goals and 14 points in 19 games this season.
It was a busy night for Blades netminder Ethan McCallum, who stopped 38 of 43 shots. The former Tiger’s record drops to 6-6-0-2 on the season.
The Blades remain tied for first place in the East Division alongside the Prince Albert Raiders with 60 points. The Blades have played one extra game over their Highway 11 rival, sitting at 27-17-3-3 on the year.
Minnesota Wild draft pick Ryder Ritchie opened the scoring for Medicine Hat with his 21st foal of the season. The former Prince Albert Raider put the Tigers up 1-0 at 4:35 into the game.
Calgary Flames draft pick Hunter Laing tied the game with 4:06 remaining in the first with his 15th goal of the season. The 6-foot-6 winger buried a pass from rookie centre Cooper Williams on a 2-on-1 to give him three goals and an assist in his last five games. The game remained tied after 20 minutes as the Blades were outshot 16-5 in the first.
Harsanyi gave the Blades their first lead of the game 41 seconds into the middle frame. The 5-foot-11 centre looked off his pass option on the 2-on-1 rush to bury his eighth goal of the season. Harsanyi has had seven goals and three assists since being acquired by the Blades, and he put them up against his former team.
The lead was short-lived as rookie forward Markus Ruck made it 2-2 just over two minutes later. The Tiger's 21st overall pick of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft has seven goals, and 18 assists in 48 games this season.
Tigers captain Oasiz Wiesblatt made it 3-2 with his 25th goal of the year in the final five minutes of the second. The WHL senior was named the second star of the night after an assist on the Tiger's fifth and final goal of the game.
Trailing by one with under eight minutes remaining in the third, Blades alternate captain Rowan Calvert tied the game with his 15th powerplay goal of the year. The tally came uniquely for the Moose Jaw, SK product, bombing a one-timer off a pass from 20-year-old winger Tanner Scott. Calvert has 20 goals and 21 assists in 46 games.
Volotovskii and Molendyk connected for the game-winning goal 24 seconds later to make it 4-3 Tigers. Volotovskii deflected Molendyk’s point shot to give him six goals on the season. WHL sensation Gavin McKenna capped off this three-point performance with his 29th goal of the year just over five minutes later.
What’s Next?
The Blades have a date with the Calgary Hitmen on Friday, Feb. 14, at SaskTel Centre for Valentine’s Day.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
