Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatoon Blades used two quick first period goals and a tight defensive effort to beat the Swift Current Broncos 5-0 on Friday night.

Martin Fasko-Rudas got his first goal as a Blade while Rhett Rhinehart also earned his first point in Saskatoon colours, with Caiden Daley dressed for his first Blades debut too. Tristen Robins had three points to add to his team lead and Koen MacInnes registered his second shutout of his young WHL career.

The Blades got off to a strong start as Alex Morozoff found himself on a breakaway within the first few minutes of the game but was unable to convert. Saskatoon was then rewarded for their strong start as Fasko-Rudas took a pass from Robins and fired through a screen to open the scoring.

Moments later the Broncos took a penalty and sent the home team to a power play, on which the Blades converted. Saskatoon worked the puck around the top as Rhinehart passed to Scott Walford who then found Robins where he fired home his first of the evening for a 2-0 Blades lead at the end of the first.

A slower second period still saw the Blades in charge. Saskatoon would add to their lead near the end of the frame as a poorly time Swift Current line change lead to Riley McKay getting a near breakaway pass. He over-skated behind the net but set up Colton Dach with a back-hand pass back to the front of the goal for Dach’s 6th tally of the year.

For the final frame Saskatoon once again held control of the play. The Blades carried the play and added to their lead. Kyle Crnkovic fore-checked hard to strip the puck from the Broncos, duke out two defencemen behind the net and then feed Robins from the side for his second of the night, putting the Blades’ up 4-0.

Just over two minutes later Walford sprung Chase Wouters who went in down the right wing and ripped in his 18th of the season to put the Blades up 5-0, which would stand as the final score. Wouters’ goal ties him for his career best, matching his 18 goal effort in the 2017-18 season.

Saskatoon held Swift Current to just 14 shots on goal for the game. Robins (2G-1A), Walford (2A) & Crnkovic (2A) all had multi-point nights while Spencer Shugrue, skating in his first Saskatoon home game, finished +1 with two shots on net.

The two teams are back at it tomorrow as the Blades will look for the weekend sweep in Swift Current. Puck drop is at 7pm.