Raiders hold off Blades 2-1 for first pre-season victory
The Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades went head to head at the Jim Neilson Sports Complex for the second consecutive year to kick off the 2023 pre-season. The Raiders erased a 1-0 first period deficit to come back and win the game 2-1.
The Blades scored the lone goal of the first period, and it came while they were shorthanded. With the Raiders on their first powerplay of the game, Misha Volotovskii sent a lead pass ahead to Zach Moore, who was all alone on a breakaway. With time to shoot, Moore snuck a shot past Cooper Anderson to give the Blades a 1-0 lead with 12 seconds left in the first period. That was the only goal of the opening frame, as Saskatoon took their one goal lead into the second period.
Harrison Lodewyk scored the lone goal of the second period, as he tied things up for the green and gold. After a faceoff win in the offensive zone, Justice Christensen wired a shot that was tipped in front by Lodewyk, finding its way to the back of the net. After 40 minutes, the Raiders outshot the Blades 17-13, but the game was knotted at 1-1 heading into the third period.
Just 35 seconds into the third period, the Raiders gained their first lead of the contest. A seeing eye shot from Doogan Pederson at the point found its way through a maze of bodies and in past Blades netminder Ryley Budd. His first goal of the pre-season put the Raiders up 2-1.
Late in the third period with the Raiders still leading, the Blades pulled their netminder in hopes of finding an equalizer with an extra attacker. The Raiders were able to survive a late push, and held on for the 2-1 win, starting the pre-season with a victory.
These two teams are back in action against each other again on Saturday night, with a venue change. The Raiders and Blades will square off at the Art Hauser Centre, with a 7pm puck drop.
