Raiders take 2-0 series lead over Blades
It was a defensive battle on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre, and the Prince Albert Raiders came out on top with a 3-0 win over the Saskatoon Blades. The victory gives Prince Albert a 2-0 series lead over the Blades in their second round matchup.
It took over half the game for there to be a goal, but the Raiders were able to score twice in the final minutes of the second period to take a 2-0 lead. Owen Corkish brought the building to life with 6:20 left in the frame, burying a rebound on the doorstep. After a shot from Daxon Rudolph was stopped by Evan Gardner, Corkish was first to the puck, and he slid home his third goal of the playoffs to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead.
With 2:04 left in the second, Jonah Sivertson came alive, scoring his first of the postseason. After Alisher Sarkenov outmuscled Jack Kachkowski at the Prince Albert blue line, he collected the puck and stretched a pass ahead to Sivertson, and the two Raider forwards came down the ice on a two on one rush. Down the right wing, Sivertson kept the puck and sniped a shot off the far post and in. In the late stages of the second period, that goal was a big one, as it gave Prince Albert a 2-0 lead heading into the third.
Just 1:01 into the third period, Matyas Man energized the crowd with his first goal of the playoffs. Taking a pass from Sivertson, the big Czech defenceman ripped a one timer over Gardner’s glove. That was a huge goal to nullify any Blades momentum that could have been generated in the intermission, as it became a 3-0 Prince Albert lead.
The defence was locked down from there, as Michal Orsulak was perfect. The Raiders netminder stopped all 15 shots he faced, collecting his second shutout of the playoffs.
Prince Albert takes a 2-0 series lead, as the action will shift to Saskatoon for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday night at SaskTel Centre.
