Leavitt Machinery Preview – Round 2, Game 1 vs. Saskatoon
RAIDER REVIEW: The Raiders begin Round 2 of the WHL Playoffs tonight at the Art Hauser Centre against the Saskatoon Blades. Last round, the Raiders finished off the sweep of the Red Deer Rebels with a 4-1 win at The Centrium. Brett Leason had two goals, while Cole Fonstad chipped in a goal and two assists in the series-deciding win. Ozzy Wiesblatt had the other Raiders’ goal. Ian Scott stopped 21 shots for the win. For the Blades, they advanced to Round 2 following a four-game sweep of the Moose Jaw Warriors.
VS. SASKATOON: The Raiders won the season series against the Blades with a record of 6-2-0-0. Prince Albert won all four meetings between the two teams at the Art Hauser Centre.
2018-19 SEASON SERIES AT A GLANCE
Sept. 30/18 at PA | PA 4 SAS 1 |P. Kelly (1g-1a), B. Leason (2a), I. Scott (28 saves)
Oct. 14/18 at SAS | PA 6 SAS 2 | B. Pachal (1g-2a), P. Kelly (1g-1a), B. Leason (2g-1a)
Dec. 9/18 at SAS | SAS 1 PA 0 | N. Maier (32 saves), I. Scott (26 saves), T. Robins (1g)
Dec. 27/18 at SAS | PA 4 SAS 3 (OT) | B. Pachal (2g), N. Gregor (2g-1a), T. Robins (2a)
Dec. 28/18 at PA | PA 4 SAS 2 | N. Gregor (2g-1a), C. Fonstad (1g-2a), D. Buskey (34 saves)
Jan. 5/19 at PA | PA 5 SAS 2 | N. Gregor (2g-1a), C. Fonstad (1g-2a), B. Leason (2a)
March 15/19 at SAS | SAS 3 PA 2 | M. Gerlach (1g-1a), P. Kelly (1g-1a), R. Hughes (1g-1a)
March 16/19 at PA | PA 3 SAS 1 | N. Gregor (2g), S. Montgomery (1g), I. Scott (24 saves)
Power play: Prince Albert – 5/32; Saskatoon – 8/39
Leading scorer: Prince Albert – Noah Gregor (9g-4a); Saskatoon – Two players tied (7pts)
BACK IN THE LINEUP: Brett Leason scored the first two WHL Playoffs goals of his career in the series-clinching win over the Red Deer Rebels last week. The 2019 NHL Draft prospect had eight multi-goal games during the regular season. Noah Gregor led the team in that category with 14 multi-goal games.
PUTTING UP POINTS: Cole Fonstad recorded the third multi-point WHL Playoffs game of his career in the Game 4 win over the Red Deer Rebels. The three points recorded in that game is a new career high. The Montreal Canadiens prospect has nine points in 11 career WHL Playoffs games with the Raiders.
ROOKIE SCORING: Ozzy Wiesblatt is tied for first among rookies for goal scoring in the 2019 WHL Playoffs. The rookie from Calgary has three goals in four games this post-season.
MOVING ON: The Raiders punched their ticket to the second round of the WHL Playoffs for the first since 2005 when they downed the Red Deer Rebels last week. In the 2005 post-season run, the Raiders swept the Saskatoon Blades in Round 1 and won a six-game series against the Medicine Hat Tigers in Round 2. The Raiders’ run ended in the Eastern Conference Final as they fell to the Brandon Wheat Kings in a seven-game set.
NEXT UP: The Raiders and the Blades will square off in Game 2 of the series on Sunday evening at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drop is 6 p.m. For ticket information, visit raiderhockey.com.
