Ice win Game 1 of first-round series over Prince Albert, Savoie leaves game with injury – Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Ice picked up a win within the opening sport of their first-round playoff collection Friday evening, however might have suffered a really important loss within the course of.

In the course of the Ice’s 3-1 win over Prince Albert, ahead Matthew Savoie was helped off the ice with a lower-body damage after taking an ungainly fall and didn’t return. Ice coach James Patrick mentioned he’s questionable to play in Sport 2.

Savoie led the staff in scoring with 90 factors through the common season, serving to lead the Ice to the very best document within the WHL and the #1 seed within the Japanese Convention.

The coach is proud of how the staff began their postseason.

“I assumed it was a typical first playoff sport,” Patrick mentioned. “I assumed there was some depth, there was some nerves, there was a bit of little bit of dislike, some jockeying with strains, however I like how we performed.”

The Ice had been the highest offensive staff within the league through the common season, however they realize it’s a distinct sport within the playoffs.

“We all know we now have 4 strains that may all chip in offensively, however defence wins championships,” mentioned ahead Jakin Smallwood. “So it’s good that we begin in a five-man pack and we will begin to chip away on their defence.”

“I don’t need us taking part in showtime hockey, as a result of it doesn’t work regardless of who you’re taking part in in opposition to within the playoffs,” added Patrick “I need us to play a fast sport, however I need us to play defence-first.”

The Ice opened the scoring simply over 12 minutes into the primary interval on a Smallwood purpose and they might add to the lead within the center body on a PP purpose from Owen Pederson.

Prince Albert would lower the result in one early within the third, however simply 1:08 after the Raiders purpose, Connor McClennon scored on the person benefit to make it 3-1.

Ice goalie Daniel Hauser made 19 saves within the victory. It was the primary WHL playoff sport for a Winnipeg membership since 1983 when the Winnipeg Warriors had been a staff.

It’s the first playoff sport and win for the Ice franchise since 2015 once they had been in Kootenay.

Sport 2 goes Saturday evening with puck drop simply after 7 p.m.

In different WHL motion Friday, the Brandon Wheat Kings dropped Sport 1 of their first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Pink Deer Rebels 5-0.