The W-H-L’s East Division standings were squeezed a little tighter Friday…thanks in large part to the efforts of Tristen Robins (pictured) and Nolan Maier!
Robins scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal while Maier out-dueled Max Paddock between the pipes as the Saskatoon Blades doubled the Prince Albert Raiders 4-2 Friday night before 4,699 fans at SaskTel Centre.
Combined with Brandon’s 3-2 victory in Calgary and Winnipeg’s 2-1 loss in Red Deer, P-A’s lead in the East Division is only one point over the Wheat Kings. The ICE are third, just four points back of the 32-17-9 Raiders while the 31-22-5 Bridge City Bunch are two points behind Winnipeg and only six points back of Prince Albert.
Robins beat Paddock between the legs with a shot off a 2-on-1 rush with 7:18 remaining in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie. He added a power play goal three minutes later as the Blue and Gold extended their winning streak to four games and ended P-A’s run at four games. Maier made 24 saves for his 18th win while Paddock made 23 stops playing in his eight consecutive game and 15th out of 17 since being acquired from Regina at the trade deadline.
Special teams were big as the Blades scored on two of three power play chances and killed off the only Raiders’ man advantage that came as the result of a “puck over glass” infraction on Zach Huber.
The Blades clinched the season series with their sixth win in seven head-to-head meetings with the Raiders, including five straight successes. Saskatoon also got goals from Huber and Kyle Crnkovic…opening the scoring on a power play and into an empty net, respectively. Ozzy Wiesblatt and Nolan Allan replied for Prince Albert…the latter tally coming with 3.5 seconds left in the game. The same teams meet again Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre. The broadcast on 98-COOL starts at 6 p.m. with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show and the play-by-play at 7. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Prince Albert Raiders 2 at Saskatoon Blades 4 – Status: Final
Friday, February 28, 2020 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Prince Albert 0 1 1 – 2
Saskatoon 1 0 3 – 4
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Huber 15 (Crnkovic, Walford), 12:06 (PP). Penalties-Guhle Pa (holding), 10:51.
2nd Period-2, Prince Albert, Wiesblatt 23 (Usau, Nachbaur), 3:40. Penalties-Masella Pa (roughing), 9:41.
3rd Period-3, Saskatoon, Robins 30 12:42. 4, Saskatoon, Robins 31 (Walford, Wouters), 15:43 (PP). 5, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 17 (Fasko-Rudas), 18:43 (EN). 6, Prince Albert, Allan 2 (Herman), 19:56. Penalties-Huber Sas (delay of game), 6:38; Usau Pa (high sticking), 15:08.
Shots on Goal-Prince Albert 8-9-9-26. Saskatoon 11-8-8-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Prince Albert 0 / 1; Saskatoon 2 / 3.
Goalies-Prince Albert, Paddock 20-16-3-4 (26 shots-23 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 19-17-1-3 (26 shots-24 saves).
A-4,699
Referees-Adam Byblow (23), Allan Scott (38).
Linesmen-Greg Sarauer (68), Levi Schutz (110).
