GAME 44 PREVIEW | Blades, Raiders battle for top spot in East Division
WHL REGULAR SEASON | GAME 44 | Saskatoon Blades (23-15-2-3) vs Prince Albert Raiders (23-15-3-0)
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Tonight
It’s a battle for first place in the East Division as the Saskatoon Blades (23-15-2-3) visit the Art Hauser Centre to take on the Prince Albert Raiders (23-15-3-0). The Bridge City Bunch hope to fend off their Highway 11 rival who sit two points back of them for first place in the division. Tonight marks the beginning of a weekend home-and-home series between the Central Saskatchewan rivals. The eight-game season series is tied 1-1 with the Raiders outscoring Saskatoon 8-7.
The Blades dropped their last contest on Sunday 3-2 at home against the Swift Current Broncos, while the Raiders have won four straight.
Who to Watch
20-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann has one goal and three assists on his three-game point streak. The WHL veteran leads the Blades backend in points with five goals and a team-leading 26 assists. In 247 career WHL games, Siepmann has 23 goals and 95 assists for 118 points.
Forwards Tanner Scott and Hunter Laing have produced offensively since joining the Blades prior to the trade deadline. Scott picked up his eighth goal of the season in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos, giving him 22 points in 35 games. The 20-year-old winger was acquired by the Blades from the Victoria Royals on January 2, scoring two goals and four assists in eight games since joining the team. Laing scored his 11th goal of the year Sunday to give him 25 points in 41 games. The Calgary Flames draft pick was acquired by Saskatoon on January 8 from the Prince George Cougars and has scored a goal and two assists in a Blue and Gold sweater.