“Running Back to Saskatoon” has yet to be played in Prince Albert this season!
The Blades made sure it didn’t happen for a third time since the season started September 20, coming back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits for a 3-2 victory Friday before 2,900 fans at the Art Hauser Centre. Riley McKay’s (pictured) second goal of the game with 5:13 remaining in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and gave the 16-15-3 Bridge City Bunch their third straight win over P.A., their third triumph in as many visits to Prince Albert and their fourth win in five overall meetings over the 20-10-4 Raiders.
The same teams meet Saturday night at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon.
“Well, again, another eventful one for sure,” said Blue and Gold assistant coach Ryan Keller with a chuckle. “They always seem to be here.”
It was the first game after a 12-day Christmas break for both teams and it seemed as though P.A. knocked the rust off first, out-shooting the Blades 13-3 in the first period. But, the game was scoreless thanks in large part to the goaltending of Nolan Maier.
“Turkey legs, turkey brain,” said Keller in a somewhat serious, yet joking fashion. “You know going in that you’re trying to avoid that the best you can with a practice yesterday and get that Christmas break mentality out of the way. Obviously we didn’t through the first part of the game, we were turning pucks over through the neutral zone, fed into their transition and letting them play quick. We just did a better job of managing the puck as the game went on and got pucks to the net.”
The game was scoreless until Spencer Moe’s power play goal got the Raiders on the board at 7:51 of the second period…the first of three goals in 58 seconds as McKay responded at 8:05 and Aliaksei Protas notched his 19th of the season at 8:49. Colton Dach tied the score with less than nine seconds remaining in the middle frame, setting the stage for McKay’s 13th goal, and first winning tally, of the season. Maier made 32 saves as Saskatoon was out-shot 34-15. Game time Saturday is 7 o’clock with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show at 6 on 98-COOL. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Saskatoon Blades 3 at Prince Albert Raiders 2 – Status: Final
Friday, December 27, 2019 – Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, SK
Saskatoon 0 2 1 – 3
Prince Albert 0 2 0 – 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Crnkovic Sas (tripping), 7:34.
2nd Period-1, Prince Albert, Moe 15 (Protas, Usau), 7:51 (PP). 2, Saskatoon, McKay 12 (Wouters), 8:05. 3, Prince Albert, Protas 19 8:49. 4, Saskatoon, Dach 2 19:51. Penalties-Wiesblatt Pa (hooking), 0:32; Kaddoura Sas (slashing), 5:12; Moe Pa (hooking), 5:30; Morozoff Sas (slashing), 7:46; Walford Sas (hooking), 9:45; Aquilon Pa (tripping), 20:00.
3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, McKay 13 (Wouters, Robins), 14:47. Penalties-Guhle Pa (hooking), 0:44; Aquilon Pa (high sticking), 2:55; Huber Sas (checking to the head), 17:41; served by Wiesblatt Pa (too many men), 19:56.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 3-7-5-15. Prince Albert 13-13-8-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 0 / 6; Prince Albert 1 / 5.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Maier 13-12-1-2 (34 shots-32 saves). Prince Albert, Bilous 15-6-3-1 (15 shots-12 saves).
A-2,900
Referees-Brian MacDonald (7), Kyle Kowalski (15).
Linesmen-Jordan Carriere (108), Devan Thiessen (94).
