Battle for playoff slot intensifies

Every game can make a difference. Every point counts.

Every shift matters. When you are in the thick of a wild-card playoff race, everything is magnified each and every time you look at the standings.

“Really, it’s all like the playoffs (already) and that’s a great thing,” Saskatoon Blades head coach Dean Brockman said Thursday as his team headed to Brandon to play the Wheat Kings on Friday night.

“You find out the desperation that your team can have, or not have. It’s been really good.”

With 18 games to play in the Western Hockey League’s regular season, including three in three days this weekend, the Blades sit tied with the Prince Albert Raiders for the final wild-card playoff spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.

“It’s still my belief that you can’t win three games in one day,” Brockman said. “You have to worry about Friday ’s game on Friday, Saturday on Saturday and Sunday on Sunday.”

The Raiders, who have a game in hand, will pay a visit to Saskatoon on Saturday night to play the Blades at SaskTel Centre.

On Sunday, the Blades play host to the high-flying Moose Jaw Warriors.

Saskatoon sits with a 26-25-2-1 record and 55 points.

P.A. is 22-20-9-2 with 55 points. “The key is that we’ve got to continue with our play and we need an effort every shift,” Brockman said. “You have to have that work ethic and effort just to try and have some success.

“It all hinges on that.”

Meanwhile, the 2018 Memorial Cup host Regina Pats are six points ahead of both the Blades and Raiders with a 28-22-5-0 record and 61 points.

Brockman was not overly happy with the Blades’ play since the Jan. 10 trade deadline, but he has witnessed signs of things turning around.

“Guys have now kind of dialed it back in after having a downturn there for a bit,” Brockman said.

“Guys are excited to be at the rink and every game matters. Every second, every minute or whatever you want to say, is pretty crucial.”

Brockman points out the Blades have had a really good week, starting last Saturday with some practices with Saskatoon minor hockey that helped bring them back to their roots.

“We’ve had good practices since then and I thought we had a pretty good game (a 5-3 win Tuesday) against Kootenay,” Brockman said.

“I know I don’t think we’re fully back to where we were before (the trade deadline) but we’re taking steps and that’s the key.

“If you fall off the face of the earth, you’re probably not going to get to the playoffs. At these times, the players start caring more and playing with a lot more passion, coming to the rink knowing that it’s going to be a work day but they also know that it’s fun to be a part of it.”

BLADE BITS: Forward Caleb Fantillo won’t be in the lineup Friday but should be ready to go Saturday. Goalie Nolan Maier is out with the flu and won’t make the trip to Brandon. Tyler Brown will get the start Friday.