Dube scores twice to lift Raiders to 3-2 overtime win in Saskatoon
Harrison Lodewyk tied the game late in the third period, while Brayden Dube’s second goal of the game was the overtime winner, as the Prince Albert Raiders picked up a massive 3-2 win over the Saskatoon Blades on Friday night at SaskTel Centre.
The Raiders got off to the best start possible, opening the scoring just 24 seconds into the game. After Tomas Mrsic chipped the puck ahead to Aiden Oiring at center ice, Oiring sent a pass to the left wall for Dube. Using his speed, Dube burned past the Blades defence and beat Evan Gardner to the far post, tucking home his 30th goal of the season past his left pad to put Prince Albert up 1-0 in a hurry.
After some back and forth action the rest of the period, the Blades were able to even the score with 4:43 to go in the first. After a hard shot from Hunter Laing was stopped by Max Hildebrand, the puck hit his shoulder and the rebound popped into the slot. In the right place at the right time was David Lewandowski who came crashing the front of the net. He was able to find the puck and bury the rebound for his 15th goal of the season.
As big of a game as Friday night’s was, it was no surprise to see the two clubs deadlocked heading into the second period.
Saskatoon scored the only goal of the second period, scoring on their first powerplay of the game. With one of Prince Albert’s top penalty killers Aiden Oiring in the box, the Blades were able to capitalize. From the left wall, Cooper Williams sent a hard pass in front of the net to Zach Olsen, who had a wide open net to tap his 11th goal of the season into, as Linden Burrett lost his man in coverage. Olsen’s marker came at the 7:25 mark of the middle frame to put the home side up 2-1.
In the final minute of the second, Hildebrand made a pair of remarkable saves on a Saskatoon odd man rush. Hunter Laing had two chances to find the back of the net, but Hildebrand dove across after a pass from Lewandowski between the circles. After a ridiculous first save from his belly, the second save was even better, as Hildebrand was able to stick with the play and reach out with his glove to keep the puck out.
The saves in the final minute kept the Raiders in it, as they trailed 2-1 heading into the third period.
Time wound down all the way in the third period until there were five minutes and seven seconds left in regulation, but the Raiders were able to tie the game thanks to Harrison Lodewyk. After playing catch with Niall Crocker along the right wall, Crocker gave him a pass in the slot. Lodewyk’s first shot was stopped by Gardner, but he stuck with it and buried the rebound to score Prince Albert’s biggest goal of the season. It was Lodewyk’s 11th goal of the season, and it made it a 2-2 game, and would send things to overtime.
1:38 into the extra frame, the Raiders pulled off the comeback win, as Dube scored his second goal of the night. Using his speed once again to gain entry to the middle of the ice, he took a hard pass in front from Justice Christensen, and was able to redirect the puck home past Gardner to deliver the overtime winner.
Prince Albert and Saskatoon are now tied for the East Division lead, and tomorrow night at the Art Hauser Centre will determine who will win the banner. The biggest game of the season is set for a 7pm puck drop tomorrow night. Raiders. Blades. The Hauser is where you want to be on Saturday night.
