The more “desperate” team was victorious in the Central Saskatchewan rivalry on Saturday…and that was the Prince Albert Raiders.

P-A captain Reece Vitelli opened and closed the game’s scoring, added an assist, was +3, had seven shots on goal and won 15 of 23 faceoffs while rookie Belarus netminder Tikhon Chaika was solid to spectacular in making 25 saves as the Raiders dumped the Saskatoon Blades 4-1. Despite the win, Prince Albert could not worm their back into an Eastern Conference playoff spot with only four weeks remaining in the 2021-22 W-H-L regular-season. The Raiders showed their desperation in a first period in which they out-shot the Bridge City Bunch 15-5, but the game was scoreless. Vitelli broke through Nolan Maier in the second minute of the second period, followed 77 seconds later by Vladislav Shilo’s marker that turned out to be the game winner. The Blue and Gold got some life when Josh Paulhus scored for the first time since November 3rd, ending a 34-game goal-less drought. But, the momentum was stopped 82 seconds later when Landon Kosior scored on a screened shot from just inside the Blades’ blue-line. P-A is 5-1-1 in March and 24-29-4 overall, but one point back of Swift Current for the eighth and final playoff spot with 11 games to go and three games in hand on the Broncos. As for 33-21-4 Saskatoon, they fell three points back of fourth place Moose Jaw after the Warriors clobbered Regina 10-4. The Bridge City Bunch’s Magic Number to clinch a post-season berth is still five points over the Raiders, six points over the Pats and seven points over Lethbridge. The Blue and Gold needs to just eliminate one of those teams from being able to catch them to qualify for the playoffs. The Blades’ 10th last game of the regular campaign is Wednesday at SaskTel Centre against the Winnipeg ICE at 7 p.m. Following is the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L, plus Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interview with head coach Brennan Sonne…..

Saskatoon Blades 1 at Prince Albert Raiders 4 – Status: Final
Saturday, March 19, 2022 – Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, SK

Saskatoon 0 1 0 – 1
Prince Albert 0 3 1 – 4

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Crnkovic Sas (hooking), 16:19.

2nd Period-1, Prince Albert, Vitelli 21   1:51. 2, Prince Albert, Shilo 5 (Herman), 3:08. 3, Saskatoon, Paulhus 3   10:01. 4, Prince Albert, Kosior 16 (Vitelli), 11:23. Penalties-Boyko Sas (high sticking), 3:40; Nolan Sas (delay of game), 11:38; Sidorov Sas (too many men), 15:01; Allan Pa (hooking), 17:57; Lisowsky Sas (roughing), 19:12; Johnston Pa (roughing), 19:12.

3rd Period-5, Prince Albert, Vitelli 22   17:36 (EN). Penalties-Shugrue Sas (cross checking), 1:53; Peekeekoot Pa (kneeing), 1:53; Sorensen Pa (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 1:53.

Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 5-15-6-26. Prince Albert 15-14-6-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 0 / 2; Prince Albert 0 / 4.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Maier 27-18-3-1 (34 shots-31 saves). Prince Albert, Chaika 18-16-2-1 (26 shots-25 saves).
A-2,721
Referees-Brayden Arcand, Fraser Lawrence (10).
Linesmen-Jordan Carriere (108), Troy Semenchuk (65).