Game 1: Red Deer Rebels (0) at Saskatoon Blades (3)
Game 2: Red Deer Rebels (0) at Saskatoon Blades (4)
Game 3: Saskatoon Blades (2) at Red Deer Rebels (1) – OT
Game 4: Saskatoon Blades (5) at Red Deer Rebels (2)
*Saskatoon Blades win series 4-0*
For just the fourth time in team history, the Saskatoon Blades have swept a playoff series as they eliminate the Red Deer Rebels in four straight games.
Thanks to a convincing 5-2 win in Game 4, the Blades advance to the Eastern Conference Semi Finals for the first time since the 2006 season. Just who they'll face remains to be seen. Should the Moose Jaw Warriors eliminate the Calgary Hitmen, the Blades would face either the Kootenay Ice or Medicine Hat Tigers. If Calgary storms back to win their series, the Blades would have a tough second round matchup against the Memorial Cup hosts Brandon Wheat Kings.
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The Blades had another solid performance against the Rebels in Game 4. Guys stepped up and played an even bigger role with the team due to the suspensions. It was tough, it was gruelling but they're efforts have paid off as they now get some much needed rest before the next round begins.
Props to Kraymer Barnstable who had a great two games for the Rebels. I wonder how different this series would have been if Barnstable had started in Game 1 – granted I'm still convinced the Blades would have won the series but it may not have been a sweep. But as Les Lazaruk once said, "If if's and but's were candy and nuts we'd all have a very Merry Christmas". Thanks Les.
Speaking of Les… I always knew how good of a play x play guy he was but you don't truly realize how AMAZING he is until you listen to other broadcasts…
Here are some neat little stats from the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals…
Stefan Elliott led the Blades in team scoring with five points. Elliott has 9-points in 11-career playoff games.
The Blades defence chipped in with 11-points in the first round including two assists by Teigan Zahn, who only had three points in 44-games in the regular season. Even more impressive is that Zahn is coming back from a broken leg which saw him miss 28-games. He was a +4 in the series.
Sam Klassen led the team with a +6 rating and had two assists.
Steven Stanford leads all WHL goaltenders in the playoffs with a 0.73 GAA and .977 Save Percentage.
WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINALS
Game Four of the Best of Seven Series
Attendance: 3,800
Red Deer Rebels – 2
Saskatoon Blades – 5
1st Period
No Scoring
2nd Period
RD: Adam Kambeitz (1); Justin Weller – 1:47 (SH)
SAS: Stefan Elliott (2); Marek Viedensky, Josh Nicholls – 8:06 (PP)
SAS: Jeremy Boyer (1); Dalton Thrower, Curt Gogol – 13:11
3rd Period
SAS: Curtis Hamilton (2); Walker Wintoneak – 4:23
SAS: Marek Viedensky (2); Stefan Elliott, Sam Klassen – 8:15
RD: Brett Ferguson (1); Cullen Morin, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – 16:22 (PP)
SAS: Gaelan Patterson (3); Teigan Zahn, Derek Hulak – 18:42 (EN)
GOALIES
Steven Stanford: 31 Saves
Kraymer Barnstable: 32 Saves
Saskatoon Blades Win Eastern Conference Quarter Final Series 4-0
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