The Saskatoon Blades cobbled one of their best efforts of the season in front of 5,698 fans at Credit Union Centre and a national T-V audience on Rogers Sportsnet, blanking the Kootenay Ice 5-0. Coming off a poor effort at home in a 3-2 loss to Lethbridge Wednesday, the Bridge City Bunch somewhat exorcised the demon from last year's second round playoff sweep as Andrey Makarov made 38 saves for his first shutout and five different players scored goals. Brent Benson's power play marker in the first period turned out to be the game-winner with Travis McEvoy, Matej Stransky, Ryan Olsen and Josh Nicholls also beating Nathan Lieuwen. The Kootenay goalie was the playoffs M-V-P last spring in leading the Ice past the Blades on the way to the W-H-L title. The victory improves Saskatoon's record to 36-25-1 for 73 points, one back of Kootenay for fifth place in the Eastern Conference and drops their Magic # to clinch a fourth consecutive post-season berth to 6 over Red Deer. The Rebels visit the Blades Saturday at 7:05 at Credit Union Centre with the broadcast on 92-9, THE BULL at 6:30.

Kootenay 0 0 0 - 0
Saskatoon 1 2 2 - 5

1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Benson 10 (Stransky, Thrower), 6:31 (PP). Penalties-Cable Ktn (hooking), 5:48; McKinlay Ktn (roughing), 12:44; Olsen Sas (roughing), 12:44.

2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, McEvoy 4 (Zajac), 11:10. 3, Saskatoon, Stransky 34   14:29. Penalties-Schmidt Sas (hooking), 3:54; Montgomery Ktn (elbowing), 12:13; Hubic Ktn (slashing), 15:18; Wand Ktn (major-fighting), 17:57; Olsen Sas (major-fighting), 17:57.

3rd Period-4, Saskatoon, Olsen 11   8:36. 5, Saskatoon, Nicholls 25   11:07 (SH). Penalties-Burns Sas (slashing), 1:04; Dietz Sas (interference), 9:54; Stransky Sas (slashing), 13:19; Descheneau Ktn (charging), 17:38; Olsen Sas (slashing), 17:38; Wand Ktn (major-fighting), 17:41; Thrower Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting), 17:41; Descheneau Ktn (inter. on goaltender), 19:49; Montgomery Ktn (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 19:49.

Shots on Goal-Kootenay 11-12-15-38. Saskatoon 11-13-9-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Kootenay 0 / 5; Saskatoon 1 / 5.
Goalies-Kootenay, Lieuwen 24-16-4-2 (31 shots-26 saves); Skapski 9-5-0-2 (2 shots-2 saves). Saskatoon, Makarov 25-18-0-0 (38 shots-38 saves).
A-5,698
Referees-Reagan Vetter (79), Chad Williams (60).
Linesmen-Brent Tournier (113), Jason Roy (94).