Edmonton Oil Kings survive frantic Saskatoon Blades comeback, win in overtime to tie WHL playoff series

Playoffs are no walk in the park. After winning their first playoff game in Edmonton, the Saskatoon Blades lost the second 4-3 in overtime, allowing Edmonton to tie the series 1-1.

Playoffs are no walk in the park.

After winning their first playoff game in Edmonton, the Saskatoon Blades lost the second 4-3 in overtime, allowing Edmonton to tie the series 1-1.

Once again, it was Edmonton that was on the offensive early in the game, and Evan Gardner was tested several times but stood up to the challenge. Gardner and the Blades’ defence kept the Oil Kings at bay, and Saskatoon managed to get on the board themselves with a goal from Hayden Harsanyi, who also scored in game one of the series, to open the scoring. For the second time in the series, the Blades led by one at the end of the first.

In the second period, Edmonton upped the pressure but was stonewalled by a tough, aggressive Saskatoon defence. After grinding away the entire period, Aaron Obobaifo managed to get a power-play goal to tie things up in the last five minutes of the second.

As play moved into the final period, it was Saskatoon that came out on the offensive. While they led the Oil Kings in puck possession, Edmonton stepped up its defensive play, and the Blades met strong resistance at the offensive end. Meanwhile, Gardner continued to imitate a brick wall with great success and the two teams were locked in a stalemate.

It would take a power play for Miroslav Holinka to break the tie, scoring from the blue line through traffic with about six minutes left in the game. That would be quickly followed up by a goal from Dylan Dean in the next minute, and things were looking poor for the Blades late in the game.

After calling a time-out with a little more than three minutes left, the Blades pulled Gardner to play five-on-four against the Oil Kings, and it paid off with Harsanyi scoring his second of the game. With the game still on the line, David Lewandowski came in clutch and followed that up with a goal of his own, tying the game with only two minutes left and sending it into overtime.

In overtime, play continued much as it had through the rest of the game – hotly contested. It seemed that Edmonton had a slight advantage, though, and Gardner was forced to scramble to make several stops, but still managed to keep Saskatoon alive with some astounding saves. It looked like a second overtime period might be brewing. However, a power-play opportunity would allow Ethan MacKenzie to finally beat the stellar goaltender, and the Saskatoon Blades would lose 4-3 late in overtime.

The series is tied 1-1 and comes to Saskatoon next for games three and four, which will be back-to-back starting on Tuesday night.