Saskatoon tops Halifax in Game 3 of MasterCard Memorial Cup
SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatoon Blades gave their fans ample reason to celebrate as they downed the Halifax Mooseheads 5-2 in round robin action on Sunday at Credit Union Centre at the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament in Saskatoon, SK.
The Blades put forth one of their finest efforts of the season to beat Halifax, the Canadian Hockey League’s top-ranked team and losers of just 11 games all season including the playoffs. Their tenacious checking, tireless work ethic and strong goaltending from Andrey Makarov helped the Blades shut down the CHL’s top offensive Club, while the efforts from their veteran leaders got them the goals they needed to claim their first win of the tournament.
Matej Stransky scored twice while Collin Valcourt, Darren Dietz and Josh Nicholls also counted for the Blades, who came up with their best effort when it mattered most.
“I thought we executed our game plan really well,” said Michael Ferland, whose truculent play helped the Blades throw the Mooseheads off their game. “Everyone in our room knew how important this win would be for us, and now we can move forward.”
The Blades knew if they were to have a chance at knocking off the Mooseheads, they would need a great performance from goaltender Andrey Makarov. The Buffalo Sabres prospect was excellent for them, particularly in the second period where he made several key saves while the Mooseheads worked their power play, and in the third period when Halifax turned up their intensity in an effort to rally back.
“He’s been wonderful for us,” said Ferland. “I don’t know how he’s doing it, but hopefully he can keep it up.”
As they did in their opening game versus London, the Blades got on the board first with Matej Stransky netting his first of the tournament 12:11 into the first period. The big winger jammed the puck past Zachary Furcale after a centering pass from Shane McColgan. Stransky’s goal made the already boisterous crowd even louder. It was one of three goals scored from right in front of Furcale.
“It was a battle out there,” said Blades’ head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken. “We just played to our strengths. We have a group that is willing to work in the tough areas, and we got two or three goals from right in front of the net with second and third efforts.
“That’s the way we need to score goals against these teams,” he said.
A skilled team that likes to have the puck and move the puck quickly, the Mooseheads were unable to find the time and space they enjoyed in a much more wide-open victory over Portland on Saturday.
“They wanted it more than us,” said Mooseheads’ defenceman Trey Lewis. “They came out and they were physical on us. We expected it, but we didn’t respond the way we needed to.”
“They played with more energy than us, and more desperation,” said Halifax head coach Dominique Ducharme. “They maybe felt they had their backs to the wall, and you have to give them credit…they battled hard.”
Stransky put the Blades up by a pair with just 1:15 to play in the second period, beating Furcale on a breakaway after coming out of the penalty box.
Even with the delay caused by a displaced pane of glass to start the third period, the Blades managed to keep up the momentum they gained from their end to the second period, and were rewarded early. Collin Valcourt put the Blades up by three, poking the puck across the goal line after it squeezed out from under Furcale’s pads in a goalmouth scramble.
Things kept working for the Blades, and they potted their fourth goal of the night just moments later with Darren Dietz whacking in a rebound from in close in another scramble in front of Furcale.
Halifax finally got on the board 6:48 into the third period as Stephen MacAuley beat Makarov after the puck came out to him in the slot and he roofed it with a quick snap shot.
Nathan MacKinnon pulled the Mooseheads within two goals just 1:31 later. The 17-year-old found himself with the puck in front of the net and made a nice shot high over Makarov’s shoulder.
However, that’s as close as the Mooseheads would get as Nicholls put the game away with a late empty net marker.
Both the Blades and Mooseheads now own 1-1 records through round robin play at the tournament.
Round robin play at the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup continues on Monday with the OHL Champion London Knights taking on the WHL Champion Portland Winterhawks.
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