With 11 games left, Blades closing in on playoffs

The Saskatoon Blades find themselves in a good position — a playoff position.

With 11 games left to play in the Western Hockey League regular season, the Blades have jostled themselves into a playoff spot and are at home for their next two games.

They’ll play host to the rival Regina Pats on Friday night at 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre before taking on the first-place Moose Jaw Warriors on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at SaskTel Centre.

Saskatoon has already surpassed its win total from last season and now sits with a muchimproved 31-27-2-1 record and 65 points.

The Blades are coming off their last lengthy road trip of the season, winning three of four games during a swing through Alberta and eastern British Columbia.

As a result, they find themselves six points up on the Prince Albert Raiders and only two behind the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL’s Eastern Conference wild- card playoff race.

In addition, Saskatoon is within striking distance of the Pats and third place in the East Division. Heading into Friday, the Blades were five points back of Regina.

BLADE BITS: The Blades are fairly healthy as they head into the final stretch. Much of the starting lineup is intact other than D Dawson Davidson, who was acquired from the Pats at the WHL trade deadline in the deal that sent Libor Hajek to Regina. Davidson is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.