Game Preview: February 14 vs Saskatoon
SETTING IT UP:
The Prince Albert Raiders (40-8-5-0) play the Saskatoon Blades (27-22-3-1) for the sixth of eight meetings this season, as the highway 11 rivals square off at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders had a long trip back to Prince Albert after falling 4-3 in Brandon last night. The Blades picked up a 6-5 shootout win over the visiting Swift Current Broncos last night, in a game where both teams traded goals in the final eight seconds of regulation, with Tyler Parr scoring the eventual shootout winner.
THE SEASON SERIES:
Prince Albert is 3-1-1-0 against Saskatoon this season. Their most recent meeting was a 3-1 Raiders win in Saskatoon on February 1st, coming after a 4-0 Blades win on January 31st. The Raiders sit first in the East Division and first in the Eastern Conference, while the Blades are third in the division and sixth in the conference. Riley Boychuk leads Prince Albert in scoring this season against Saskatoon with five points, while Rowan Calvert has six points for Saskatoon this season against the green and gold.
SIVERTSON SHINES IN LOSS:
Jonah Sivertson contributed on all three Raider goals on Friday in Brandon, scoring a goal and adding two primary assists. In 51 games this season, the 17-year-old has 45 points (18-27). He enters tonight on a four game point streak, with nine points in that stretch (2-7).
50 JUICE BOMBS:
Raiders defenceman Justice Christensen reached 50 goals in his WHL career on Tuesday against the Pats. The tally snapped a 10-game goalless drought. It was a powerplay goal, and also stood as the game winner.
UPCOMING MILESTONES:
Justice Christensen: Playing 250th game tonight
Daxon Rudolph: 2 points away from 100
Maddix McCagherty: 2 points away from 100
Brandon Gorzynski: 5 goals away from 50
UP NEXT:
The Raiders host the Moose Jaw Warriors on Monday afternoon for a Family Day matinee. Puck drop for that contest is at 2pm. After that, they’ll head to Moose Jaw on Friday to wrap up a home and home set, before welcoming the Swift Current Broncos to town on Saturday night.
