WIN COLUMN | Maier shuts out Raiders for record 85th victory
REGINA, SK — Make it six straight victories for the Saskatoon Blades.
Nolan Maier collected a record-setting 85th career victory, Colton Dach netted a pair, and the East Division leaders throttled the Prince Albert Raiders 4-0 at the Brandt Centre on Monday afternoon.
What’s being recognized as the best start to any season in franchise history, the Blades improve to 8-0-1-0 on the season. They’re the only team in the Eastern Conference to remain undefeated in regulation.
Only the Everett Silvertips and Kamloops Blazers, who’ve played five and two games respectively, own a higher win percentage with undefeated records.
Colton Dach added an assist to combine for three points, and alternate captain Tristen Robins added a goal and an assist to stretch his point-streak to six games.
Maier stopped all 24 shots for the hisctoric win — tying Tim Cheveldae for the most in franchise history. The 2001-born ‘tender remains undefeated this season with a perfect 6-0-0-0 record. It’s Maier’s first shutout of the season and eighth of his career, sitting second behind Andrey Makarov with his franchise record of nine.
85 career wins for Nolan Maier, matching the franchise record.
And it comes by shutting out Prince Albert 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Te5lgnUcBT
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 30, 2021
The Yorkton, SK product certainly earned his 85th win, with the bulk of his work coming in the third period. Maier made 15-saves, and was flawless on three penalty kills, including a five-minute major.
He’s expected to have a chance to set a new record on Wednesday, when the Blades battle the Winnipeg ICE.
Prince Albert falls to 3-4-1-1 on the year. Carter Serhyenko was tested with 32-shots in defeat.
Dach and captain Chase Wouters began right where they left off on Friday. Both forwards notched opening period markers — each their fifth of the season — following multi-goal performances against Regina three nights ago.
That release ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/zAxTGMQsb1
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 29, 2021
Robins won the faceoff in the attacking zone, Dach corralled the puck in the slot, and ripped the opening marker top corner just 3:57 in. The draft-eligible winger has scored twice in back-to-back games, and has put together multi-point efforts in three of his last four contests.
Pressuring on a four-minute powerplay, Dach teamed up with Robins and Wouters for the second marker of the contest. A tic-tac-toe passing play began with Robins before Dach one-touched a pass to Wouters in the slot. The three-year captain one-timed a shot that went off Raiders defender Remi Aquilon before finding its way past Carter Serhyenko.
Tic. Tac. Toe.
Cap'n @wouters_44 5th of the year comes off a beautiful passing play 👏 pic.twitter.com/fqKSCyudpI
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) March 29, 2021
Dach’s second of the night came 10:39 into the second period, sending a long shot from just inside the blue-line towards a screened Serhyenko.
Robins joined the scoring parade with just over two minutes to go in the second, ripping a snap-shot home on the powerplay. The San Jose Sharks prospect is up to six goals this season, three of which on the man-advantage.
Early in the final frame, Justin Nachbauer was handed a double-minor for roughing after shoving Blades defender Charlie Wright from behind.
Three minutes later, Logan Linklater was slapped with five and a game after spearing Dach with the butt-end of his stick. Dach keeled over for a couple minutes but was able to skate off the ice and return later in the period.
With less than nine minutes to play, Wouters shoved Ozzy Wiesblatt towards the corner, causing him to stumble awkwardly into the boards. Wouters was handed a five-minute misconduct, and Wiesblatt left the game grasping his left shoulder.
For the complete box score, CLICK HERE.
Saskatoon will look for a seventh straight victory on Wednesday, battling the only team they’ve lost to this season, the Winnipeg ICE. The puck drops at 6:00pm.
