They didn’t open or close the scoring Thursday, but the Saskatoon Blades did more than enough in between to record a 6-4 W-H-L victory over the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.
The line of Brandon Lisowsky-Jayden Wiens and newcomer Kyren Gronick combined for eight points to spark the Bridge City Bunch, now 17-13-2 for the season, as they snapped a four-game winless streak at SaskTel Centre. Lisowsky (pictured) recorded his second hat-trick this season with Wiens adding a power play goal and two assists and Gronick, in just his second game since being acquired from Prince George, chipped in with a pair of helpers. P-A scored the game’s first two goals and the last two goals with the Blue and Gold notching their six in between. After losing in a shootout on Tuesday to Red Deer, six goals was good enough this time for the Blades for the victory, the fifth time this season Saskatoon has scored six in a game, their season high. Captain and defenceman Aidan De La Gorgendiere put the Bridge City Bunch ahead for good just 34 seconds into the third period. That followed a successful, late second period offside challenge by the Blue and Gold that took what the Raiders thought was the go-ahead goal off the scoreboard. Tristen Robins also scored for the Blades, who moved back into second place in the East Division and fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Brandon and two up on Moose Jaw. Saskatoon was 2-for-5 on the power play while killing off both Prince Albert man advantages. Lisowsky now has 19 goals for the season, tied with Kyle Crnkovic for the team lead. Ozzy Wiesblatt, Landon Kosior, Vladislav Shilo and Niall Crocker tallied for the 12-17-2 Raiders, who were out-shot 22-15 in the contest. Both teams host Edmonton in their next game as the calendar flips to 2022. The Blades welcome the Oil Kings on New Year’s Day Saturday at 7 o’clock while P-A entertains Edmonton Sunday at 6. Following are Les Lazaruk’s post-game show interviews with head coach Brennan Sonne, Lisowsky and De La Gorgendiere as well as the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..
Prince Albert Raiders 4 at Saskatoon Blades 6 – Status: Final
Thursday, December 30, 2021 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Prince Albert 1 1 2 – 4
Saskatoon 0 2 4 – 6
1st Period-1, Prince Albert, Wiesblatt 8 15:54 (SH). Penalties-Rhinehart Sas (slashing), 5:56; Stanick Pa (tripping), 13:58; Crocker Pa (checking to the head), 17:42.
2nd Period-2, Prince Albert, Kosior 8 (Herman, Pakkala), 2:18. 3, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 17 (Wiens, Robins), 6:03 (PP). 4, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 18 (Gronick, Wiens), 11:16. Penalties-Aquilon Pa (high sticking), 5:16; Crnkovic Sas (hooking), 12:33; Aquilon Pa (kneeing), 15:32.
3rd Period-5, Saskatoon, De La Gorgendiere 3 (Gronick), 0:34. 6, Saskatoon, Lisowsky 19 5:59. 7, Saskatoon, Wiens 9 (De La Gorgendiere, Crnkovic), 6:45 (PP). 8, Saskatoon, Robins 14 (Boyko), 14:08. 9, Prince Albert, Shilo 4 (Pakkala, Aquilon), 16:54. 10, Prince Albert, Crocker 2 (Wilson, Gislason), 18:37. Penalties-Wiesblatt Pa (slashing), 6:30.
Shots on Goal-Prince Albert 5-5-5-15. Saskatoon 8-8-6-22.
Power Play Opportunities-Prince Albert 0 / 2; Saskatoon 2 / 5.
Goalies-Prince Albert, Chaika 6-6-0-1 (20 shots-15 saves); Tisdale 4-0-0-1 (2 shots-1 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 14-11-1-1 (15 shots-11 saves).
A-2,729
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Levi Schutz (110).
Linesmen-Ridge Brooks (161), Tanner McGregor (55).
