WHL Prince Albert Raiders

Raiders Fall to Blades

Published on December 18, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release


Prince Albert, Sask. - A late third-period goal broke the deadlock as the Prince Albert Raiders (11-14-1-1) fell 3-2 to the Saskatoon Blades (15-12-1-0) on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre.

Reece Vitelli has a goal and an assist in the loss, while Carson Latimer chipped in a pair of assists. Sloan Stanick also scored for the Raiders.

Stanick got the scoring started with the first of two Raider power-play goals on the night. Vitelli put a shot on goal that was stopped by Nolan Maier. Stanick was left alone to the right side of the goal and got two whacks at the puck to put it home for his ninth of the season at the 6:59 mark of the first.

Less than three minutes later, the Blades levelled the score. Tristen Robins found Brendan Lee in the slot with a pass from the corner. Lee's shot went off two bodies in front of the net and got past Tikhon Chaika to make it a 1-1 game.

Trevor Wong put the Blades ahead about two minutes later. He received a pass between the two faceoff circles and got his shot through two Raiders trying to block it to put the Blades ahead at the first intermission.

The Raiders thought they tied it midway through the second period. Ozzy Wiesblatt took the puck on a wraparound and he believed he tucked it past a sprawling Maier. However, the goal was waved off on the ice and the replay showed Maier getting his pad to the post to keep the puck from crossing the line.

Later in the period, Nolan Allan sprang Stanick on a partial breakaway on the left wing. He made a move to his backhand to get around Maier, but the puck rolled of his stick before he was able to put it into the empty net.

The Raiders drew level with their second power-play goal of the night at the 3:55 mark of the third. Wiesblatt got a defender on the ground with a fake shot then cut inside and put the puck towards net. Vitelli was able to get his stick on the shot to deflect it through Maier for his team-leading 10th of the season to knot things up at 2-2.

The Blades found the decisive marker with 3:21 to play in the third. Aidan De La Gorgendiere's shot from the point was going wide, but hit a Raider trying to block a shot then ricocheted off another body to fool Chaika to seal the game.

The best chance for the Raiders to tie came in the waning seconds of the contest. After Wiesblatt dropped it for Vitelli, the Raiders captain made a pass from his knees to Latimer. The Ottawa Senators prospect teed up a one-timer, but Maier was able to track the puck and get across to make the save.

Chaika finished the game with 25 saves as he made his eighth-consecutive start. Maier stopped 31 shots to pick up the win.

The Raiders close out the first half of the season tomorrow night in Saskatoon for a rematch with the Blades. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Catch the game on WHL Live on CHL TV, or head to The Rock And Iron Club House or Original Joe's to join the watch parties.

The next Raiders' home game isn't until after the holiday break when they welcome the Blades back to the Art Hauser Centre on Monday, December 27. Game time is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Raiders Office during office hours and any time at SaskTix.ca.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2021


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