Saskatoon, Sask – Kootenay ICE forward Matt Fraser scored 2 goals in a 4-1 win over the Saskatoon Blades, in the 1st game of the 2nd round of the playoffs, in WHL Playoff action on Friday night.
Fraser opened the scoring on a powerplay breakway.
Steele Boomer was credited with the game winner with a powerplay deflection.
Max Reinhart extended his point streak to 3 games with a goal late in the 2nd period.
Fraser ended the scoring with an empty netter.
Cody Eakin and Brayden McNabb each had 2 assists.
The last regular season meeting between the clubs was March 4th in Saskatoon and the Blades won 9-2.
Since then the ICE had a record of 10-2-0-1.
Going into the series the Blades home record including the playoffs was 35-3-0-1.
Of the remaining 8 teams in the 2011 WHL playoffs Blades bench boss Lorne Molleken has the most playoff experience with 111 games and 57 wins, plus 4 games coached in the 2001 Memorial Cup.
In ICE playoff history they have won 4 playoff series without home ice advantage.
The most recent was vs Medicine Hat in the 1st round of the 2008 Playoffs.
Also in 2000 in the 3rd round against Calgary, 2002 WHL Final against Red Deer and 2003 in the 1st round vs Kamloops. (ICE won the WHL Championship in 2 of those years, 2000 and 2002)
Luke Paulsen returned after missing 18 games to a shoulder injury.
Because of injuries and illnesses the ICE have called 15-year-old Sam Reinhart for the weekend.
ICE scratches – Brock Montgomery, Adam Rossignol, Drew Czerwonka.
Blades scratches – Tanner Sohn, Tommy Stipancik, Ryan Olsen.
Game Summary
Kooteany leads the series 1-0.
Game 2 is Saturday in Saskatoon.
Kootenay 1 2 1 - 4
Saskatoon 1 0 0 - 1
1st Period-1, Kootenay, Fraser 6 (Eakin, McNabb), 1:14 (PP). 2, Saskatoon, Elliott 3 (Zahn), 13:58. Penalties-Nicholls Sas (tripping), 0:55; Fraser Ktn (usc diving), 13:13; Schenn Sas (cross checking), 13:13; Leach Ktn (elbowing), 16:05; Dziurzynski Sas (interference), 19:16; Ismond Ktn (roughing), 19:53; Zahn Sas (roughing), 19:53.
2nd Period-3, Kootenay, Boomer 2 (King, Martin), 11:57 (PP). 4, Kootenay, Reinhart 4 (Rintoul, McNabb), 18:33. Penalties-Martin Ktn (interference), 4:48; Benson Sas (charging), 6:26; Schenn Sas (cross checking), 10:34; Hurley Ktn (interference), 13:31.
3rd Period-5, Kootenay, Fraser 7 (Reinhart, Eakin), 19:48 (EN). Penalties-King Ktn (roughing), 10:30; Dziurzynski Sas (roughing), 10:30; Hamilton Sas (checking from behind), 16:49.
Shots on Goal-Kootenay 11-9-13-33. Saskatoon 9-12-15-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Kootenay 2 / 5; Saskatoon 0 / 3.
Goalies-Kootenay, Lieuwen 5-2-0-0 (36 shots-35 saves). Saskatoon, Stanford 4-3-0-0 (32 shots-29 saves).
A-7,612
Referees-Adam Byblow (23), Steve Papp (36).
Linesmen-Ryan Lundquist (106), Chad Williams (60).