BY Jonathan Huntington
SASKATOON – The Saskatoon Blazers and Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors punched their tickets to the second round of the SMAAAHL playoffs on Thursday night – and will meet in a best-of-five semi-final starting next week.
The Blazers swept the Warman Wildcats thanks to a 6-2 victory on home ice; while Moose Jaw defeated the visiting Battlefords Stars 3-2.
“Moose Jaw is a real deep team with four good lines,” said Blazers head coach Troy Walkington just a few moments after addressing his team at Rod Hamm Arena on Thursday night. “It was nice to see them in the last week of the regular season. We don’t like how that game ended. But we are looking forward to the match-up (in the second round).”
Moose Jaw threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Battlefords Stars on Thursday – pounding 41 shots on Stars’ goaltender Cody Marciniuk. “Cody was unbelievable tonight,” said Battlefords head coach Martin Smith. “He made huge save after huge save. He was the reason the score stayed close and gave us a chance to win.”
The only missing piece of the second round is the team that will play the top-seeded Regina Pat Canadians. A power play goal by Trae Peterson – who tipped a point shot from Hunter Wilm – with 1:13 left in the third period gave the Swift Current Legionnaires a 5-4 victory over the Estevan Innovex Bears – and a 2-1 series lead. One more win by the Legionnaires will send them to Regina for Round 2.
