Raiders Clash With Blades in Round Two of 2019 WHL Playoffs
Prince Albert, SK – The Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades will square off in Round 2 of the 2019 WHL Playoffs, setting up a series between the two top teams in the Eastern Conference based on points.
Both teams swept their Round 1 series. The Raiders eliminated the Red Deer Rebels in four games, while the Blades did the same to the Moose Jaw Warriors. Game 1 of the series will be played on Friday, April 5.
Here’s the series schedule:
| Game | Date | Location | Time |
| Game 1 | Friday, April 5 | Art Hauser Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Game 2 | Sunday, April 7 | Art Hauser Centre | 6:00 PM |
| Game 3 | Tuesday, April 9 | SaskTel Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Game 4 | Wednesday, April 10 | SaskTel Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Game 5* | Friday, April 12 | Art Hauser Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Game 6* | Sunday, April 14 | SaskTel Centre | 4:00 PM |
| Game 7* | Tuesday, April 16 | Art Hauser Centre | 7:00 PM |
| *if necessary |
The Raiders won the regular season series 6-2-0-0 against the Blades, including all four games played at the Art Hauser Centre. Brett Leason led the Raiders in scoring during the regular season with 89 points (36 goals, 53 assists). The Blades were led in scoring during the 2018-19 campaign by blueliner Dawson Davidson, who scored 13 goals and added 62 assists.
In Round 1 of the 2019 WHL Playoffs, Noah Gregor and Dante Hannoun each had two goals and three assists to lead the Raiders in scoring with five points. The Blades had a pair of players with five points to lead the team in the first round as Max Gerlach had five goals and Kirby Dach finished with three goals and two assists.
The Raiders kicked off the regular season series with a 4-1 win over the Blades on Sept. 30 in Prince Albert. During the game, the Raiders set a new team record by scoring three goals within 16 seconds. Justin Nachbaur, Ozzy Wiesblatt, and Parker Kelly were the ones to set the record. Kelly also had an assist, while Brett Leason assisted on two goals. Tristen Robins scored the lone goal for the Blades.
In the next meeting, the Raiders skated to a 6-2 win over the Blades in Saskatoon on Oct. 14. Leason had two goals and an assist, while Brayden Pachal had a goal and two assists. Kelly Sean Montgomery and each chipped in a goal and an assist. Aliaksei Protas added two assists. Spencer Moe scored the Raiders’ other goal. Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen and Dawson Davidson were the Blades’ goal scorers.
The two teams met again on Dec. 9 in Saskatoon. Nolan Maier made 32 saves to backstop the Blades to a 1-0 shutout win at SaskTel Centre. Robins scored the only goal of the game. Ian Scott made 26 saves on the afternoon for the Raiders.
The Raiders and the Blades met for their annual home-and-home series after the holiday break, beginning on Dec. 27 in Saskatoon. Pachal scored the game-tying goal in the third and the winner 33 seconds into overtime to lift his team to a 4-3 win. Noah Gregor had two goals and an assist, while Cole Fonstad chipped in three assists. Wiesblatt and Kaiden Guhle each had a pair of assists. Kyle Crnkovic, Eric Florchuk, and Max Gerlach found the back of the net for Saskatoon.
In the rematch on Dec. 28 in Prince Albert, the Raiders doubled up the Blades 4-2. Gregor had two goals and an assist for the second consecutive game. Fonstad also had a multi-point night with a goal and two assists. Protas also scored for the Raiders. Roykas-Marthinsen and Gary Haden scored for the Blades.
A week later, the Raiders downed the Blades 5-2 at the Art Hauser Centre on Jan. 5. For the third straight game against the Blades, Gregor had two goals and an assist. Fonstad also matched his last outing against Saskatoon with a goal and two assists. Kelly and Nachbaur were the other Raiders’ goal scorers. Leason also chipped in two assists. Haden and Davidson were the Blades’ goal scorers.
On the last weekend of the season, the two teams met again for a home-and-home series. The Blades opened the weekend with a 3-2 win over the Raiders in Saskatoon. Gerlach scored the game-winning goal 7:17 into the third period. Brandon Schuldhaus and Ryan Hughes also scored for the Blades. Kelly had a goal and an assist, with Gregor finding the back of the net for the other Raiders’ marker.
In the regular season finale, the Raiders closed out the year with a 3-1 win over the Blades at the Art Hauser Centre. Gregor had another two-goal performance against the Blades. Montgomery also scored for the Raiders. Gerlach got the Blades’ only goal.
Single-game tickets are now on sale for Games 1 and 2 of the series. Click here or the Raider Office to purchase tickets.
The Raiders will also be sending two fan buses each night to Saskatoon for Games 3 and 4. Tickets are $55 for adults and $30 for children. The bus will leave from the Art Hauser Centre at 5 p.m. on each night. Pick up your tickets for the bus at the Raider Office.
Season Statistics
| Prince Albert | Saskatoon | |
| Record | 54-10-2-2 | 45-15-8-0 |
| Goals For | 307 | 259 |
| Goals Against | 156 | 190 |
| Power Play | 22.0% | 21.9% |
| Penalty Kill | 86.9% | 81.4% |
| Leading Scorer | Brett Leason (89 pts) | Dawson Davidson (75 pts) |
