Blades blank Broncos to begin home-and-home series

The Saskatoon Blades swiped aside the Swift Current Broncos for a 5-0 win Friday at SaskTel Centre.

The league-worst Broncos were in tough against a Blades team that attacked early and broke through 7:34 into the first period when Martin Fadko-Rudas, acquired in a trade at the WHL deadline, scored on a long-distance shot.

Broncos goaltender Isaiah DiLaura was pulled 84 seconds later after allowing his second goal in five shots when Blades forward Tristen Robins wired a shot over his shoulder on a power play.

Saskatoon would add to the lead in the second period. Colton Dach took a backhand pass from Riley McKay to score his sixth of his rookie campaign with less than 13 minutes remaining in the period.

Swift Current managed just eight shots in the first two periods of the game compared to the Blades’ 26 shots on net.

The offensive onslaught continued in the third period as Robins scored his second of the game after Kyle Crnkovic wrestled the puck from behind the net and fed the 18-year-old for a one-time goal past relief goaltender Iasaac Poulter.

Robins has been on a scoring flurry lately, notching 12 points in his last six games. The C-rated prospect in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft finished the game with two goals and an assist.

Blades captain Chase Wouters would cap the scoring with a shot from the right wing 9:42 into the final frame.

Rookie Koen MacInnes made 14 saves for his second career shutout.

MacInnes as playing in his fourth straight game in relief for injured goaltender Nolan Maier, who is nursing a lower-body injury he aggravated this week.

Swift Current and Saskatoon will meet again Saturday to cap the home-and-home series.