Blades drop Game 1 in Double OT

The Blenheim Blades have won both meetings with the Flags in Mooretown this season and they’ll have to win there at least once more to move onto the second round of the PJHL Stobbs Division playoffs.

Logan Gardner’s goal 50 seconds into the second overtime period gave the Flags a 4-3 win over the Blades in front of 327 fans at The Rec Centre in Thursday night’s opener in the best-of-seven quarterfinal.

The Blades can turn the home-ice advantage back in their favour with a win in Mooretown on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Game 3 is back at The Rec Centre on Sunday at 7 p.m.

The teams traded four goals in the first period – Tate Bowden and Ian Campbell, on a power-play, for Blenheim, Tristen Konrad and Brody Genyn, on a power-play for the Flags.

Gardner scored on a two-man advantage for the Flags early in the second but Bowden’s second goal of the night later in the period tied the game at three.

The teams played a scoreless third period and 20-minute first overtime period.

The Blades outshot the Flags 17-12 in the first overtime as both goalies – Blenheim’s Jake Vancoillie and Mooretown’s John Chartrand – were outstanding.

Blenheim held a 60-56 edge in shots.