GAME 2 RECAP | Blades come out hot, beat Raiders 4-2 in home opener
Saskatoon, SK – Doing something once is nice. Achieving that same thing twice? Even better, especially against one of your most hated rivals.
Forward Vaughn Watterodt scored 28 seconds into the game and the Saskatoon Blades never looked back, defeating the Prince Albert Raiders 4-2 Sunday at SaskTel Centre. Four different Blades scored in the victory, while rookie netminder Evan Gardner picked up his first WHL win in his second career game. The Lake Country, BC product stopped 30-of-32 shots.
It’s the second consecutive year the Blades bested their Highway 11 rival in their home opener, this time doing so in front of league-best 6,493 fans.
The Blades weren’t thrilled about the result of their game the night prior in Regina vs the Pats and quickly put it behind them. Rosetown, SK’s own Watterodt sent the crowd into a frenzy 28 seconds into the game with his first goal of the season. The 6-foot forward pounced on a bobbled puck from Raider goalie Chase Coward and buried it into the back of the cage. Watterodt earned himself a career-high 18 goals and 34 points in 68 games last season with the Blades and is expected to be a big producer offensively once again.
Watterodt only needed 28 seconds to open the scoring pic.twitter.com/hXjZpvdne9
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 24, 2023
19-year-old defenceman Ben Saunderson extended the Blades lead 2-0 5:43 into the first period. The fourth-year Blade had a chance right in the slot and picked his spot for his first goal of the year. Saunderson suited up in 63 games last year with the Blades scoring one goal and 11 points. With defencemen Aidan De La Gorgendiere and Blake Gustafson aging out last year for Saskatoon, Saunderson could be relied on more heavily on the blueliner this season.
In case you didn't already know… Ben Saunderson is a pure sniper 🎯 pic.twitter.com/WUdV66p74X
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 24, 2023
Capping off a three-goal first period for the Blue and Gold was forward Lukas Hansen with his first of the year. It’s back-to-back years that the 2005-born center’s scored in the Blades home opener, both times against the Raiders. Forward Tyler Parr earned his second assist of the night on the goal helping send the Blades into intermission up 3-0.
🚨 Back-to-back years with a goal in the @merlinyxe home opener for Lukas Hansen! pic.twitter.com/JD8tsKfkRU
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 24, 2023
The Blades went to a 5-on-3 powerplay late in the second after a double-minor high stick was called on the Raiders and two minor penalties shortly after. Captain Trevor Wong pushed the Blades lead to 4-0 with a rocket wrister in the slot. The 5-foot-9 forward led the Blades in scoring last year with 86 (27G, 59A) in 68 games and will be at the forefront as the Blades push for their first ever WHL Championship.
What a shot, Wonger 🥵 pic.twitter.com/MbEn6tCDRR
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 24, 2023
The Raiders got one back before the end of the second thanks to import-forward Matej Kubiesa cutting their deficit to 4-1.
Prince Albert forward Owen Boucher made it a 4-2 game with his first of the season just under halfway through the third. The Raiders had a flurry of chances down the stretch, but Gardner made several ten-bell saves to keep them off the board and secure the 4-2 win.
Everyone, we'd like to introduce you to Evan Gardner pic.twitter.com/UBhfZKWv2a
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 25, 2023
Once Again… EVAN GARDNER EVERYONE pic.twitter.com/YqTip6kd6x
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) September 25, 2023
What’s Next?
The Blades prepare for a weekend in Southern Alberta visiting the Medicine Hat Tigers Saturday and the Calgary Hitmen the following afternoon.
Puck drop for Saturday’s game is 7:00pm while the matinee vs the Hitmen starts at 2:00pm.
