GAME DAY PREVIEW: Final stop on US trip tonight for Blades in Seattle

Saskatoon Blades (11-14-2-1) at Seattle Thunderbirds (12-13-2-1) |
Date | Time | Tuesday, Dec. 5th | 9:00 p.m CST |
Place | Showare Center , Kent, WA |
Video Stream | WHL Live |
Radio | 92.9 The Bull FM | Pre-Game Show w/ Les Lazaruk & Tyler Wawryk @8:30pm |
Mobile App | Apple | Android |
Live Stats | Click Here |
Next Home Game | Saturday, Dec. 9th vs Kamloops Blazers for Girls Rock Night |
Social Media | @BladesHockey ![]() ![]() |
Tonight – The Saskatoon Blades wrap up their US Division road swing in Kent, Washington, taking on the reigning WHL Champion Seattle Thunderbirds. The Blades come into this one 4-4-1-1 in their last 10, having been on each side of a shutout in their past 2 games.
The opponent – The T-Birds come in with just 1 win in their last 6 outings and a 3-6-1-0 record in the past 10. The defending champs aren’t quite the powerhouse they were last year, but their roster still has some firepower and experience of what it takes. Defenseman Austin Strand leads the offense from the backend with 29 points in 28 outings, and is one of 5 players on the roster with 20 or more points.
For Saskatoon – The Blades are coming off a massive 4-0 shutout victory on Sunday over the Portland Winterhawks and have a chance to close out the US trek 3-2 with a win tonight. Saskatoon will need to keep the pedal down and finish strong… which means starting strong tonight. Sunday the Blades put up over 40 shots on goal for just 2nd time this season and was a true indicator of the full team effort for 60 minutes. Nolan Maier will make his 8th consecutive start on the heels of his 1st career shutout in which he made 48 saves vs Portland.
The lineup – There won’t be any significant changes to roster for tonight… Aidan De La Gorgendiere travelled with the team to Portland, but did not dress on Sunday and has since returned home. Seth Bafaro was the lone healthy scratch on Sunday so the only changes would be on the back end if he draws back into the lineup.
Injury report:
F Caleb Fantillo – lower body, 6-8 weeks
F Gage Ramsay – lower body, week-to-week
G Ryan Kubic – lower body, day-to-day
Download & view the full game notes: game notes at SEA dec5