Raiders clinch Eastern Conference title with 4-0 win over Saskatoon
The Prince Albert Raiders clinched the 2026 Eastern Conference title on Friday night, as they beat the Saskatoon Blades 4-0 at the Art Hauser Centre.
The tone was set 38 seconds into the game, as the two captains, Justice Christensen and Tyler Parr dropped the gloves at center ice. The tilt lasted nearly a minute, bringing a roar to the Art Hauser Centre crowd. The two 20-year-olds exchanged some heavy blows, with Christensen getting the upper hand by the end of it. While he went to the box for five minutes, Parr was forced to head to the dressing room for repairs. He would return with a new, blood free #92 jersey, a different look from his usual #20.
Just over seven minutes after the electrifying fight, the Raiders opened the scoring on their first powerplay. Braeden Cootes collected a cleared puck in his own end, dropping a pass for Daxon Rudolph, still in the Raiders zone. Cootes then went flying up the ice, caught a pass from Rudolph through the neutral zone, and came in on Taye Timmerman on a breakaway. Cootes chose to shoot glove side, and it was the right decision, as he beat the Blades netminder with a shot over the left pad and under his glove. The quick release gave Cootes his 24th goal of the season, keeping the energy in the building going as he made it a 1-0 game.
Riley Boychuk doubled Prince Albert’s lead to 2-0 with 5:44 left in the first, as he tipped in his 15th goal of the year. Just inside the blue line, Maddix McCagherty button hooked to the top of the point and surveyed his options. He quickly saw Boychuk open up in front, and sent a shot towards him near the right post. Boychuk did a great job to get his stick on the puck, redirecting it home past Timmerman, as it was the second goal to beat him on the glove side.
After 20 minutes, the Raiders took their 2-0 lead into the second period, also holding an 11-5 edge in shots.
Only one goal was scored in the second, and it came off the stick of Christensen, as he completed the Gordie Howe hat trick. After picking up an assist on Boychuk’s goal, it was a patented Juice Bomb that put the Raiders up 3-0. From near the point, Boychuk sent a pass along the line to Christensen, who ripped a one timer, beating Timmerman five hole. It was his 17th goal of the season, putting Prince Albert up by a trio.
Another fight took place in the middle frame as well, as a pair of 17-year-olds shed the mitts. Daxon Rudolph and Cooper Williams went at it in the Raiders zone, grabbing hold of each other in the corner. While it wasn’t as electrifying as the captains in the first period, the ending still brought a loud ovation from the fans, as both players were escorted to the box to sit for five.
Christensen added his second goal of the night 5:22 into the third period. After the puck took a couple of bounces in front, it was kicked to the high slot where the Raider captain picked it up. Finding his spot to shoot, Christensen wired a shot past Evan Gardner, who replaced Timmerman after the fourth goal.
There was some rough stuff back and fourth to end the contest, but the score remained the same, as the Raiders won by a 4-0 final. With 16 saves on the night, Orsulak recorded his fourth shutout of the season.
The victory clinches the Eastern Conference title, as the Raiders will finish the season as the #1 seed, and are guaranteed home ice advantage through the first three rounds of the playoffs.
