Raiders Pick Up Point In Overtime Loss to Saskatoon
March 12, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Prince Albert, Sask. - The Prince Albert Raiders (22-28-3-1) earned a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Saskatoon Blades (32-18-3-1) on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre.
While the winning streak was snapped at three games, the Raiders have now picked up at least a point in four consecutive games.
Hayden Pakkala had both of the Raiders' goals in the loss, while Cale Sanders chipped in a pair of assists.
Saskatoon got on the board first late in the first period. Josh Pillar retrieved a puck in the corner, but it was popped up in the air. It bounced off a Raider defender's glove before hitting the cross bar and settling in the blue paint. Vaughn Watterodt was at the top of the crease to knock the puck in to put the Blades up 1-0 after 20 minutes.
The Raiders responded 2:18 into the second period. Sanders had control of the puck along the halfboards in the Blades' end, skating towards the blueline. He hooked a pass towards the slot that Pakkala was able to corral. The Okotoks, Alta. product spun and fired a shot that beat Nolan Maier on his blocker side to make it a 1-1 game with his eighth of the year.
Pakkala struck again midway through the middle frame. Eric Johnston's point shot was knocked down in the slot by Sanders. He worked it free from Tanner Molendyk and threw it in the slot. Pakkala took the puck, went back against the grain to his left, and stuffed the puck past Maier's right pad to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead with his ninth of the season.
The Blades tied it up with 7:49 remaining on a power play. Tristen Robins made a pass across the zone to Brandon Lisowsky. He was able to step into a shot that beat Tikhon Chaika to level the score at 2-2.
The Raiders thought they regained the lead with 4:51 to play in the contest. Remy Aquilon drove to the corner and tried to pick out Evan Herman in the slot. His shot hit a skate and found Aquilon at the left post. Aquilon turned to his forehand and fired a shot that got through Maier.
However, the Blades challenged the play for offside. The play was overturned due to an offside call as a Raider entered the zone slightly ahead of the puck.
Late in the period, Robins was given a double minor for boarding. Landon Kosior had a chance from his spot in the left faceoff circle, but sent the puck just over the cross bar.
The penalty lasted into the overtime period. Early in the extra frame, Kosior found Reece Vitelli on the doorstep with a pass. The Raiders captain's deflection found the right post and the puck stayed out.
Going the other way, Rhett Rhinehart drove to the net and his backhand attempt was stopped by Chaika. The puck trickled through the blue paint where Egor Sidorov was able to come from behind the net and tap the puck over the goal line to give the Blades the win.
Chaika finished the game with 30 saves in the loss for the Raiders; Maier made 49 saves to pick up the win for the Blades.
The Raiders will head to Saskatoon on Saturday night for a rematch with the Blades at SaskTel Centre. Game time is 7 p.m. Catch the game on 900 CKBI with Rob Mahon, watch on WHL Live on CHL TV, or head to The Rock And Iron Club House or Original Joe's to take in the game.
The next Raiders' home game is on Wednesday night when the Swift Current Broncos make the trip to the Art Hauer Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at SaskTix.ca.
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