Raiders End 2021 with Loss to Blades in Saskatoon
December 30, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Prince Albert, Sask. - The Prince Albert Raiders (12-16-1-1) closed out 2021 with a 6-4 loss to the Saskatoon Blades (16-13-1-1) at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon on Thursday night.
Vladislav Shilo had a goal and an assist, while Hayden Pakkala had a pair of helpers. Niall Crocker, Landon Kosior, and Ozzy Wiesblatt also scored for the Raiders in the loss.
Wiesblatt got the scoring started with 4:06 left in the first period with a shorthanded tally. He stripped Noah Boyko of the puck as he exited the zone and was in alone on Nolan Maier on a breakaway. He wired a shot over Maier's glove from between the faceoff circles to score his second shorthanded marker and eighth goal of the season.
Early in the second, the Raiders doubled their lead. Pakkala worked the puck behind the net to Shilo, who found a pinching Kosior. The Regina product was able to step into a shot and beat Maier stick side for his eighth of the season, putting the Raiders up 2-0 2:18 into the middle frame.
The Blades cut into the lead at the 6:03 mark on the power play. Brandon Lisowsky collected a rebound in front, spun and fired a shot past Tikhon Chaika to make it 2-1.
Five minutes later, Lisowsky struck again to tie things up. Kyren Gronick was stationed behind the net and found Lisowsky in front and one-timed the puck past a sprawling Chaika for his second of the contest.
The Raiders thought they regained the lead late in the third. Pakkala hooked a pass back into the zone to spring Sloan Stanick on a breakaway. Stanick sniped a shot past Maier to finish off the play. The Blades challenged for offside and the replay found the puck just crossed the blue line before Pakkala was able to keep it in, wiping the goal off the board to send the game to the second intermission at 2-2.
The Blades took their first lead of the night 34 seconds into the third period when Aidan De La Gorgendiere was given time to skate into a shot that got past Chaika.
About six minute later, Saskatoon struck twice in less than a minute to take a 5-2 lead. Lisowsky forced a turnover in the slot and fired quickly to complete his hat trick. Then Jayden Wiens tipped home a De La Gorgendiere point shot on the power play.
Wiens' goal ended Chaika's night. He finished with 15 saves in nearly 47 minutes of action.
Cole Tisdale was called in to finish the rest of the game. Tristen Robins was able to solve the Raiders netminder with 5:52 to play in the contest for Saskatoon's sixth consecutive goal.
Shilo got the Raiders back in the goal column with 3:06 remaining in the third. He tried to pass on an abbreviated two-on-one rush, but the pass hit a Blade in front. He grabbed the puck and slid it through Maier for his fourth of the season to make it 6-3.
With 1:23 remaining, Crocker brought the Raiders back within two. Zachary Wilson led a three-on-two rush into the Blades' end. Wilson hit Crocker with a pass in the middle of the zone and the Delta, B.C. product went off the left post and in for his second of the year.
Crocker's goal was as close as the Raiders came on the night as the score finished 6-4.
Tisdale saw just two shots in relief for the Raiders. Maier picked up the win with 11 saves.
The Raiders are back in action after the calendar flips to 2022 when they take on the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday evening at the Art Hauser Centre. Game time is 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the Raiders Office during working hours or any time at SaskTix.ca.
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