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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Blades Drop Series Opener in Prince Albert

April 6, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


For the first time in the 2019 WHL Playoffs, the Saskatoon Blades find themselves trailing in a series after a 6-1 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday night in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinal.

WHAT WENT DOWN

The Raiders opened the scoring through Sean Montgomery (2) 3:47 into the game, but the Blades we quick to respond. Chase Wouters (2) evened things up at 1-1 less than two minutes later; Brandon Schuldhaus and Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen had the helpers.

Brett Leason (3) then tucked in a rebound to restore the lead for Prince Albert midway through the first period. The one goal spread held up after the first period with the Raiders holding a slight advantage on the shot clock of 12-11.

The middle frame saw the Raiders score a pair of goals to increase their lead to 4-1 thanks to Sean Montgomery's second goal of night, as well as one from Parker Kelly (2). The first half of the period was fairly close, but as the clock ticked down Saskatoon slowly started to lose their composure, ending the period short-handed.

Prince Albert scored two more goals in the third period, both coming on the power play. Sean Montgomery (4) completed his hat-trick while Parker Kelly (3) tucked in his second of the evening past Koen MacInnes, who came in to relieve Nolan Maier after the Raiders' fifth goal.

Saskatoon was 0/2 on the man advantage and 4/6 on the penalty kill. Nolan Maier finished the night with 31 saves on 36 shots while 2002 born affiliate player Koen MacInnes was 2/3 in in just under 13 minutes of action in his unexpected WHL debut. MacInnes came in to close out the game after the Blades fell down 5-1 in the third period; a move made to protect Maier as the game was getting out of reach, rather than a result of poor play. Ian Scott made 23 saves for the Raiders.

NEXT UP

The Blades will look to respond in game two as they travel back to Prince Albert for a 6:00pm puck drop on Sunday evening. The game will be broadcast live on Sportsnet, and as always will be available on the radio at 98 COOL FM, online at WHLlive.com and at the official viewing party of Blades road games at Shoeless Joe's Sports Grill.

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