Raiders Fall in Close Contest with Blades
April 8, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Regina, SK - The Prince Albert Raiders (4-8-1-1) fell 5-3 in a close contest against the Saskatoon Blades (10-2-2-0) on Thursday night in the Subway Hub Centre at the Brandt Centre in Regina.
Dallyn Peekeekoot had a goal and two assists in the loss for the Raiders. Nolan Allan and Reece Vitelli also scored for Prince Albert. Ozzy Wiesblatt chipped in with a pair of assists in the game.
The Raiders got on the board first 8:02 into the opening period. After Peekeekoot got the puck into the Blades' end, Wiesblatt collected it behind the goal. He fought of a check from Aidan De La Gorgendiere and found Allan pinching in from the blueline. He one-timed the pass from one knee above the glove hand of Nolan Maier for his first goal of the year, making it a 1-0 game.
Max Paddock kept the Raiders' lead with a great glove save. A rebound found the stick of Chase Wouters, who had his shot deflected on the way to the goal. The puck went straight up in the air and Paddock was able to glove it away from the net.
Just before the end of the first, the Blades levelled the score. Brandon Lisowsky made a move at the blueline and found Tristen Robins coming into the zone. Robins was able to get space and wired a shot past Paddock with 59.3 seconds left in the opening frame, sending it to the first intermission tied at 1-1.
Early in the second, the Raiders almost regained the lead when Vitelli found Wiesblatt cutting to the goal. The San Jose Sharks prospect had two shots on goal, but Maier turned both aside to keep it level at 1-1.
The Blades took the lead on a five-on-three power-play goal 2:32 into the second frame. Wouters put a shot on goal from the bottom of the left faceoff circle that was stopped by Paddock. However, the rebound found the stick of Colton Dach at the side of the goal and he put the puck in to make it 2-1 for Saskatoon.
Midway through the second, Saskatoon doubled its lead after a turnover in the Raiders' end. Kyle Crnkovic found the puck, spun and fired quickly to beat Paddock to give the Blades a 3-1 lead with 8:33 to play in the second.
The Raiders were able to battle back and tie the game with a pair of power-play goals late in the second. Vitelli made it 3-2 with a goal with 5:37 to play in the middle frame. Wiesblatt's shot from the point was saved by Maier, but Vitelli and Peekeekoot banged away at the puck in front of the goal. Vitelli found the puck behind Maier in the blue paint and potted it for his fourth of the season.
Less than two minutes later, Peekeekoot tied the game. Matthew Culling got the puck in the corner and sent it to Nachbaur at the point. The Cross Lake, MB product's shot was redirected by Peekeekoot at the top of the crease for his second of the season, both of which have been on the power play, to make it 3-3 after two periods.
In the third, the Raiders were able to keep the score tied while shorthanded two players for the second time in the game thanks to saves from Paddock.
However, the Blades eventually took the lead with 7:10 to go. Robins jumped to knock the puck out of the air on a clearing attempt to his own stick. He then hit Lisowsky with a backdoor pass for a tap in to put Saskatoon ahead 4-3.
The Raiders had their chances to tie the game with the net empty for the extra attacker. The puck found the stick of Peekeekoot on the top of the crease, but Maier was able to kick out his pad to rob the rookie of his second of the game. Maier also stopped Vitelli on the rebound to preserve the lead.
The Blades sealed the game with a Caiden Daley empty-net goal with 53 seconds to play.
Paddock finished the game with 33 saves in the loss for the Raiders. Maier stopped 20 shots to pick up the win for Saskatoon.
The Raiders are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on the Winnipeg ICE. Puck drop is 4 p.m. Catch the game on WHL Live on CHL TV.
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