Blades take first half of home and home set 3-2
The Prince Albert Raiders erased a 2-0 deficit in the second period, but the Saskatoon Blades scored early in the third period to take a 3-2 win out of the Art Hauser Centre on Friday night.
After a scoreless first period that saw the Raiders outshoot the Blades 13-12, Saskatoon opened the middle frame with back to back powerplay goals to open up a 2-0 lead. Vojtech Vochvest was served a double minor for slew footing behind the Raider net, setting Saskatoon up on a four minute powerplay. They were able to score twice on the same powerplay, as Hudson Kibblewhite and Hunter Laing both found the back of the net. Kibblewhite was able to bury a rebound chance after Max Hildebrand made the initial save off of a point shot from Laing. He picked up his eighth goal of the season to open the scoring.
Just over a minute later, Laing followed up his assist with a goal, as he ripped a shot that Hildebrand got his glove on, but it went off it and in for his 20th goal of the season to make it a 2-0 game. Saskatoon didn’t score on their lone powerplay chance in the first period, but went 2/2 on their chances in the second.
Aiden Oiring put the Raiders on the board with 8:50 to go in the second, scoring his 24th goal of the season. After a shot from Lukas Dragicevic was stopped by Evan Gardner, Oiring found the rebound in the crease and roofed a backhand shot to make it a 2-1 contest.
Prince Albert kept pushing, as they were able to tie the game back up with 4:17 to go in the frame. After Linden Burrett kept the puck in at the blue line, he fed a pass down the wall to Oli Chenier. Chenier then made a great pass to the slot for Evan Smith, and he was able to fire home a one timer to score his third goal of the season to have the score even at 2-2 after 40 minutes.
Saskatoon took their lead back just 2:07 into the third period, as they took advantage of a Raider turnover behind Hildebrand. Cooper Williams stole the puck away from Justice Christensen and fed a wide open Laing in front. Laing was able to gather the puck and snipe home a shot glove side past Hildebrand for his second goal of the night to give the visitors the lead back at 3-2.
The Raiders couldn’t find a tying goal to respond, as the Blades held their one goal lead all the way to the final buzzer. These two teams go at it again tomorrow night at SaskTel Centre. Puck drops at 7pm.
