GAME 48 PREVIEW | Highway 11 rivalry renewed in home-and-home series
Key Players, Notable Stats, How to Watch and More
The Saskatoon Blades (24-19-3-1) visit the Art Hauser Centre to begin a weekend home-and-home series against the Prince Albert Raiders (36-6-4-0). Tonight’s the fourth meeting of the season between the East Division rivals before the fifth instalment tomorrow afternoon at SaskTel Centre. The Blades are 1-2-0-0 against Prince Albert, getting outscored 11-9. Saskatoon fell short in the last battle against Prince Albert on December 14 at home 5-4. Tonight’s the conclusion of Saskatoon’s four-game road trip. The Bridge City Bunch are 0-3 on the journey.
Standings
The big 250
Alternate captain Rowan Calvert is expected to skate in his 250th career WHL game tonight. The career Blade has 62 goals and 65 assists for 127 points in his career. The Moose Jaw, SK native leads the team in goals (23) after scoring his team-leading 12th powerplay goal of the season in Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Calvert has two goals and three helpers in the season series against Prince Albert.
Let Lew cook
After ten games without a goal, Edmonton Oilers draft pick David Lewandowski has lit the lamp in back-to-back games. The 18-year-old winger potted his tenth goal of the season in Wednesday’s loss, tacking on an assist as well. Lewandowski snapped his skid Tuesday in Medicine Hat against the Tigers. In nine games back from the World Junior Championship, Lewandowski has two goals and seven assists for nine points.
The good guys
Lewandowski leads the team in scoring with ten goals and 32 assists for 42 points in 37 games. Calvert has the most goals on the team at 23 and a team-leading 12 coming on the man-advantage. Second-year defenceman Jordan Martin has the best +/- at +10. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Evan Gardner has an 18-10-2-1 record between the pipes with a .905 SV%, 2.79 GAA, and two shutouts.
The opposition
The Raiders have won eight straight games. If the Raiders win both games against the Blades this weekend, and either the Moose Jaw Warriors or Red Deer Rebels lose two games in regulation, the Raiders will secure a spot in the 2026 Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs. Prince Albert has eight players averaging over a point-per-game.
Milestone watch
Captain Tyler Parr is five assists away from 100 in his WHL career
Defenceman Tristen Doyle is four points away from 100 in his WHL career
Forward Cooper Williams is four points away from 100 in is WHL career
Tonight is alternate captain Rowan Calvert’s 250th career WHL game
Watch and listen
Fans can watch today’s game for FREE on Victory+ TV. Click HERE to make your free account today.
Voice of the Blades Les Lazaruk and will have the call on 600 CJWW. Coverage begins at 6:45pm CST with the pre-game show
