NOVEMBER 28, 2016 - The Steele County Blades hosted the Forest Lake Lakers for a two game home stand this past weekend, marking the third and fourth time they have played each other in a row. The Blades outscored the Lakers 10 to 5 in the previous two games and picked up two wins in the process.
In Friday night's game, the Lakers’ special teams wasted no time, scoring the first goal of the game just over three minutes into the game. On their first power play of the evening, Laker defensemen Jon Hansen made a stretch pass to Jared Fladebo. Fladebo snuck his way behind the Blades penalty kill before captializing on his break away chance. The Lakers power play unit was given a chance at the 9:09 mark of the period when Jake Friese was sent to the penalty box for a high sticking infraction. Just thirty-one seconds into the power play, Jared Fladebo tallied his second power play goal of the period, giving the Lakers a 2-0 lead under 10 minutes from the opening face off. The Blades luck looked like it was about to shift when they were given their first power play of the period. Unfortunately for Steele County, a costly turnover on the offensive zone blue line gave Lakers forward Tom Strelow a breakaway chance that he made the most of. The shorthanded goal for Strelow gave the Lakers a 3-0 lead, and skated into the first intermission with a comfortable lead.
The second period turned into a defensive battle, with neither team giving up much ground. The only sign of offensive life came from Jake Freise with an even strength tally at the 5:38 mark. Kyle Wadden was credited with an assist on the play, keeping his eight game point streak alive. The Blades would manage to produce eight shots on goal for the period compared to the Lakers five. The third period carried much of the same feel as neither team asserted dominance, or produced many quality chances. The Lakers would hold their 3-1 lead until the Blades would pull goaltender Mike Severson in favor of the extra man advantage. Tom Strelow would put the icing on the cake, scoring an empty net goal, securing the Lakers victory with a 4-1 win.
Head Coach Nick Adamek was not impressed with his team's effort in the losing effort. “I think it goes back to being prepared," said Coach Adamek. "Really, we weren’t prepared to play that game to start. We can’t be a hockey team that takes time off.”
Saturday night was an opportunity at redemption for the Blades. The Lakers turned to Jessie Heisz in net after his Friday night victory. Meanwhile, the Blades countered by giving Tim Grounds the start. Neither goal was tested much in the opening period. Grounds saved all eight shots on goal, while Heisz stopped all seven Blades chances as the first period would end scoreless.
Something clicked in the Blades locker room in between periods as they were a team with something to prove in the second frame. The Blades Freise beat Heisz for the second time in two nights to open the scoring just under two minutes into the middle period. Wadden picked up an assist on the play, prolonging his scoring streak to nine games. Two minutes later, Antonio Najera found Kaleb Combs sitting in the slot with a perfectly timed pass. Combs tallied his first goal of the season, beating Heisz with a wrist shot just under the crossbar. The second period flurry was not over just yet. Just over half way into the period, Clayton Huss fired a back door pass to Soren Colstrup, who unleashed a rocket of a shot into the back of the net. The Blades would end the second period with a 3-0 lead, the same differential Forest Lake posted the night before after one period of play.
Tensions were clearly on the rise entering the third period. Ten minor penalties were assessed during the final frame with two addition ten minute misconducts dolled out to both team's respectively. Although there were many penalties, the third period remained scoreless as the Blades shutout the Lakers 3-0. Heisz, making 14 saves in the third period, ended the night with 32 saves. Grounds remained perfect on the evening, stopping 29 shots, including 14 saves during the second period. The 3-0 win gave Grounds his second shutout of the season, earning him “Goaltender of the Week” honors for the USPHL Elite Division.
After the weekend, the Blades have a record of 11-5-2, sharing the same point totals as the Lakers and Dells Ducks. The Blades have a game in hand on the Ducks and six games in hand on the Lakers. The Blades will sit idle with the next two weekends off before resuming action against the River Falls Renegades in River Falls on Thursday, December 15th.
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