Gerlach notches third-period winner as Blades push Warriors to the brink

One more win — that’s all the Saskatoon Blades need.

The Blades edged the host Moose Jaw Warriors 3-2 Tuesday night, taking a 3-0 lead in their best-ofseven opening-round Western Hockey League playoff series. Max Gerlach’s fourth goal of the series late in the third period stood up as the winner.

Saskatoon can clinch on Wednesday night in Moose Jaw, when the teams play Game 4.

The Blades entered the night with a 2-0 series lead after capturing Games 1 and 2 on Friday and Saturday in Saskatoon. They won the opener 3-2 in overtime, and claimed the followup contest 3-1.

On Tuesday, Kyle Crnkovic opened the scoring for Saskatoon late in the opening period. The Warriors and Blades swapped goals in the second stanza with Keenan Taphorn scoring for Moose Jaw, and Kirby Dach for Saskatoon.

Moose Jaw’s Carson Denomie erased Saskatoon’s slim lead 6:27 into the third period when he scored on a scramble, but the Blades pulled back in front while working a two-man advantage with that aforementioned marker from Gerlach.

The Blades’ 3-2 edge stood up for the final 4:21, as Saskatoon held off the Warriors and took command of the series.

Dach finished with a goal and an assist for the Blades, who also got two assists each from Ryan Hughes and Nolan Kneen.

Nolan Maier stopped 22 of 24 shots in the Saskatoon net, while Adam Evanoff blocked 37 of 40 for Moose Jaw.

The series remains in Moose Jaw for Game 4, which faces off Wednesday at 7 p.m. (Mosaic Place). Game 5, if necessary, goes Friday in Saskatoon. Games 6 and 7 would be played Saturday and next Monday in Moose Jaw and Saskatoon, respectively.