Vitelli's Three-Point Night Lifts Raiders Over Blades
March 20, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Prince Albert, Sask. - Reece Vitelli had a three-point night as the Prince Albert Raiders (24-29-3-1) picked up two points in a 4-1 win over the Saskatoon Blades (33-20-3-1) on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre.
The Raiders captain took over the team's scoring lead with a pair of goals and an assist, giving the overager 43 points on the season. Landon Kosior and Vladislav Shilo also scored for the Raiders in the win.
The Raiders and Blades played a fast and physical first period. Dallyn Peekeekoot and Terrell Goldsmith got into the action early on with a couple of big hits along the right-wing boards. Nolan Allan nearly extended his goal-scoring streak late in the opening frame, but his shot with four seconds left in the opening period found the cross bar.
Vitelli got the scoring started 1:51 into the middle frame. He fought off the pressure form Ben Saunderson and circled back to the net on the right wing. The Winnipeg, Man. product let a low wrist shot go from the bottom of the right faceoff circle the got through Nolan Maier's five-hole to give Vitelli his 21st goal of the year.
Just over a minute later, Shilo doubled the Raiders' lead. After the Raiders were able to keep the puck in at the blue line, Evan Herman found Shilo behind the Blades' defence, He corralled the puck as the two Blades' defenders slid past him as they dove to break up the pass. With patience, he toe-dragged towards the goal line and buried a sharp angle shot for his fifth goal of the year to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead 3:08 into the second.
The Blades answered midway through the middle frame. Josh Paulhus skated over the blueline and put a shot on goal that fooled Tikhon Chaika. The Raiders goaltender was able to get a piece of the shot, but it bounced over the goal line to make it a 2-1 game.
Kosior restored the Raiders' two-goal lead 82 seconds later. Vitelli shook free from Rhett Rhinehart on the left wing and hit the Regina-born defenceman with a pass at the right point. Kosior loaded and fired a wrist shot through traffic that beat Maier to put the Raiders ahead 3-1 with his 16th of the season.
The Raiders had chances to extend the lead in the third period. Keaton Sorensen fired a shot that handcuffed Maier off the rush, but the Raiders forward fanned on the rebound. Maier was also able to turn aside an Evan Herman one-timer from the right faceoff circle.
Chaika's best save of the game came in the third period. Kyle Crnkovic sent a cross-zone pass to Tanner Molendyk. Chaika was able to slide over to his right to take away a goal from the Blades' defenceman.
The Raiders netminder finished the game with 25 saves to record his 18th win of the season. Maier stopped 31 shots for the Blades in the loss.
The win moved the Raiders into ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 52 points with 11 games remaining, one point behind the eighth-place Swift Current Broncos.
The Raiders are off until Tuesday night when they host the Winnipeg ICE on Tuesday night at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Raiders Office during working hours and at SaskTix.ca any time.
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