Saskatoon, SK –  The Prince Albert Raiders (1-3-0-0) fell 5-2 to the Saskatoon Blades (2-1-1-0) at SaskTel Centre on Saturday night.

Riley Boychuk and Connor Howe each scored in the loss for the Raiders, with Howe pushing his point streak to four games to start the season.

It was Boychuk who opened the scoring early in the first period. He and Owen Corkish broke into the offensive zone on an odd-man rush. Corkish fired a shot at Martin Psohlavec’s pads and the rebound went right to Boychuk. The Cochrane, AB product buried the rebound for his first of the season.

Shortly after, Ben Harvey was sent in on a partial breakaway. He lifted a shot over Psohlavec’s glove, but it hit the crossbar.

Michal Orsulak was able to keep the Blades at bay as they pressed for the equalizer through the rest of the opening frame. The Detroit Red Wings prospect stopped all 11 shots faced in the opening frame.

Early in the second, the Blades drew even. David Lewandowski skated in on an odd-man rush with Hayden Harsanyi. Orsulak squared up for the shot attempt, but Lewandowski slid the puck over to Harsanyi who found the empty side of the net to make it 1-1.

With about five minutes to play in the second period, Hunter Laing gave the Blades the lead. He collected a rebound at the side of the net on the goal line. He was able to tuck the puck inside the right post for his fourth of the season to give Saskatoon a 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes.

Early in the third, the Blades extended their lead. Orsulak stopped the deflection off the initial shot, but the rebound found Lewandowski at the side of the net and the Blades forward netted his second goal of the year at the 2:23 mark.

About four minutes later, Laing scored his second goal of the game when he received a pass at the side of the net. He stepped out to the front of the net and squeaked a shot through Orsulak to put the Blades ahead 4-1.

At the tail end of a parade to the penalty box for both teams through the middle 10 minutes of the third, the Raiders cut the Blades’ lead in half on the power play. Howe was able to step into the slot between the tops of the faceoff circle and he wired a shot past Psohlavec with 5:10 to play in the third.

The Raiders pulled Orsulak for the extra attacker late in the third. With the net empty, Liam Myhre’s shot was stopped by Psohlavec. Harvey was there waiting for the rebound, but the Blades netminder was able to make the stop.

Kazden Mathies hit the empty net with 11 seconds left to round out the scoring.

Orsulak finished the game with 24 saves in the loss. Psohlavec made 24 saves to pick up the win for the Blades.

The Raiders are back in action on Wednesday night when they host the Red Deer Rebels on Orange Jersey Night. The Raiders are wearing special orange jerseys to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The jerseys are being auctioned off on 32auctions with proceeds being donated to Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services.

Tickets for the game are available at sasktix.ca and at the Raiders Office.