After winning a five game round one series against the Brampton Admirals, the Oakville Blades had a week off until they waited for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres. Buffalo won in seven games of their first round vs the Burlington Cougars.
In the regular season the Blades dominated the Sabres winning six out of six games.
The second round of the Western Division Conference started this past Friday night in Oakville at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. The Blades were clinical, playing an overall complete game defeating the Sabres 3-1. Blades' Jason Pineo, Thomas Maia and Jack Ricketts scored.
Sunday afternoon the Blades travelled to Buffalo. It was a St. Patrick’s Day special matinée game at the Harbor Centre. The game was intense with the control of the puck going back and forth. Eventually the Jr. Sabres won by a 1-0 score line. The Blades threw everything they had at Buffalo's goalie Caleb Hannon, but he backstopped all 31 shots for the shutout.
Meanwhile Blades' goalie, Will Barber made 26 saves. His solid performance kept his team in the game. Unfortunately, Blades players' Spencer Kersten hit a crossbar and Tanner McEachern hit a post. Both robbed by the skinny red defender behind goal-tender Hannon.
Game three of the West Division Final will be played in Oakville on Tuesday night for a 7:30pm puck drop.
Game four will be played in Buffalo for another 7pm start on Wednesday night and for sure back at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Friday night at 7pm for Game five.
We want everyone to make it out to the rink to support the third best team in the Nation, but if you can’t our Broadcast crew will have the LIVE Play by Play on hockeyTV.com and on OakvilleBlades.com.