Raiders drop first preseason game in a shootout
Raiders fall in the shootout against the Blades
PRINCE ALBERT, SK – Despite a spectacular performance by goaltender Eric Williams, who stopped 40 of 42 shots, the Raiders fell to the Blades in the first exhibition game of the season.
The Raiders landed themselves into some early penalty trouble by going down two men twice before the 8 minute mark of the first period. The Blades capitalized on a 4 on 3 power play at 12:49 of the first period when the missed point Lukas Sutter’s missed point shot rebounded off the back boards and landed on the waiting stick of Tyler Kiziuk who slid the puck past a helpless Williams.
Penalties continued to be the story during the 2nd period when at the 9 minute mark, Harrison Ruopp and Duncan Siemans dropped the gloves and exchanged some heavy blows in a lengthy fight.
3 minutes after the Raiders found themselves in trouble in their own end and had to rely on some spectacular saves not only Eric Williams, but defenseman James Bettauer who stepped in and made a timely block on the goal line of the net. The blocked shot led to a break up ice and Justin Maylan was able to go around the defender and beat the goalie one on one.
The Blades opted to change goalies heading into the 3rd, exchanging 16 year old for Adam Todd who had stopped 16 of 17 shots through the first 2 periods, for 17 year old Tyler Oswald.
Davis Vandane broke the deadlock at the 13:41 mark of the 3rd period when he fired a high wrist shot from the point that beat a screened Williams.
The Raiders responded with a late goal at 18:48 of the 3rd. The sixth attacker was just leaving the bench when Maylen tipped the Bettauer point shot who had received a behind the back the back from Sebastian Svendson. Maylan’s second of the game was enough to force overtime and eventually a shootout.
In the shootout, Raiders Fiddler and Mahura failed to find the back of the net while 15 year old McGauely and 16 year old Olsen capitalized on their opportunities for the Blades.
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