Saskatoon 4, Everett 2
Published 11:04 pm Friday, October 14, 2011
TALKING POINTS
There’s two things I took away from this game:
1) Saskatoon is really good.
2) I’ve never seen a better WHL debut by a 16-year-old goaltender.
First point first. Saskatoon was supposed to be down this season after going for it all last season. But if the Blades are down you can’t prove it by me. Saskatoon was hugely impressive with its size and speed and precision. The Blades constantly forced the Tips to turn the puck over in the neutral zone, and their defensemen always seemed to be in the right place whenever Everett was trying to get out of its own zone.
But from Everett’s perspective, the story was Austin Lotz. This was Lotz’s WHL debut. As a 16-year-old. A 16-year-old who wasn’t even supposed to make the team this season. Then in his debut he was presented with a Saskatoon team that peppered him with 53 shots. That would normally be a recipe for disaster. But Lotz was spectacular tonight. He showed off great mobility, a good glove and he fought for everything. I’ve been able to watch Lotz during practices and he certainly looked ready. But I don’t think anyone could have anticipated a performance like this in his debut. He single-handedly kept the Tips in the game.
TURNING POINT
There really wasn’t a decisive turning point in this one as Saskatoon swarmed Everett throughout. Honestly, to me the turning point was when Saskatoon’s Matej Stransky hit the inside of the post while on the power play with the Blades leading 3-1 in the third. If that one goes in it’s a pretty uneventful final nine minutes. But somehow it stayed out, the Tips scored a short-hander later during the power play to cut the deficit to one, and it made for a much more exciting finish.
HIT OF THE DAY
There was some good hitting going both ways tonight, without there being much that made me go, “Wow.” Everett’s Jesse Mychan might have had the pick of the lot when he bowled over Darren Dietz midway through the third period.
THREE STARS
First star: Lotz. 50 saves, welcome to the WHL.
Second star: Brett Stovin, Saskatoon. One goal and one assist, good production for a fourth liner.
Third star: Andrey Makarov, Saskatoon. 33 saves and had to be solid late.
The Herald’s honorable mention: Cody Fowlie, Everett. One goal and one assist, his goal made the third period interesting.
BOX SCORE
