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So what happens when the top team in the East and top team in the West meet and only one of them shows up to play the full 60 minutes? That's right, a Saskatoon win.

"It wasn't very clean tonight," said Americans coach Jim Hiller, whose team played its fifth game in eight days. "We were fighting the puck and we weren't very good in our own end -- that's a bad combination."

"I thought it was a good game," said Blades coach Lorne Molleken, whose team has won five straight and all four against the U.S. Division. "Both teams generated some good opportunities. On this trip we have found ways to win. Our power play was good tonight and everyone contributed."

"The guys were wearing down, but Saskatoon is in the same boat," Reddick said of the schedule. "No excuses, we should have been at our best and we weren't. We waited too long to try and get back in it. It would have been nice to get all 10 points. It shows we have stuff to work on." (Herald)

The boys had moments, but just not as much intensity for the entire game as what Saskatoon had. Post-game convo:

RL: I think we (AMS) are the better team, if that's their (Blades') A-game.
me: I agree, but if the boys can't figure out how to bring their A-game against a team like that, then maybe they aren't the better team.

I may be paraphrasing, but it was close to that.

Kruise had a good game, with two goals and a helper. Blades were targeting Shinnimin, nice to see him really battling hard to get those guys off of him. Holy crap, they're a big team too. Then again, our team is small, so it's all relative. Brooks Macek continued to play balls-to-the wall. The Blades dominated the 2nd period, AMS just didn't respond. At least it wasn't one of those 7-1 blowouts. It was just sloppy and sometimes lazy. Ok, not necessarily lazy, but not matching the intensity that Saskatoon had.

In other news, Clayton Stoner continues to wow the Wild organization:

"You talk about kicking the door down and announcing that you're here; well, he's done that," Richards said.

When Stoner arrived, he wasn't exactly a wide-eyed kid, but the smile gave away his feelings.

"It's been a bit of a long road to get up here, but it's exciting to be here," he said.

Stoner has hit a few opponents pretty hard with the Wild and made an impression as someone who is willing to mix things up. Despite his two early assists, including one on an 80-foot pass that sent Martin Havlat in for a breakaway goal against Colorado, Stoner isn't with the Wild for his scoring, Richards said.

"He competes," the coach said, "and for the most part, he keeps it simple. Which is what he has to do."

Wild defenseman Greg Zanon played against Stoner in the AHL and remembered him as a big, strong kid. But with the Wild, Stoner has shown more than that.

"He's come in and done a real good job for us," Zanon said. "He's played a solid role. I know he spent some time in the minors, and it's nice to see him get a chance and do so well with it. (TwinCities.com)

"He's just doing what he needs to do to stick around and make a good impression. He's been a good addition for us."

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WHL trade deadline is this week (I want to say the 10th?), I have no idea what Bob is going to do, I have no inside information, I would not suggest looking here for breaking news. Jussayin.