As upset as head coach Marc Habscheid was following Friday’s 4-2 loss in Saskatoon, his Prince Albert Raiders were just as dominant…if not moreso…in the first period Saturday on the way to blanking the Blades 3-0.
A sold-out crowd of 2,934 fans cheered lustily as P-A out-shot the Bridge City Bunch 27-5 in the opening 20 minutes while scoring twice on three power play chances. After that, the Raiders coasted to their sixth consecutive win at the Art Hauser Centre in a chippy, penalty-filled contest with 23 minor infractions called…14 of them to the Blue and Gold.
“That’s not the way you want to start,” understated Blades associate coach Ryan Marsh. “Credit to them. They came out with some purpose. They were just hungrier on pucks than we were. We weren’t able to match their competitiveness (Saturday) night early.”
In the end, Kaiden Guhle and Justin Nachbaur scored the first period power play goals for Prince Albert, who beat Saskatoon at home for the first time in four tries this season. Daniil Stepanov added the third goal in the second period on Bridge City Bunch goaltender Nolan Maier, who played heroically for the Blue and Gold, making 40 saves as the Raiders out-shot Saskatoon 43-18. It was Max Paddock’s fifth shutout of the season and his third since joining P.A. at the trade deadline.
The Raiders improved to 33-17-9 for the season and stayed a point ahead of Brandon atop the East Division after the Wheat Kings edged Lethbridge 4-3. Prince Albert has two games in hand on the Wheaties. Thanks to Edmonton shutting out Red Deer 4-0, the 31-23-5 Blades are assured of no worse than a tie-breaker for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Magic Number is 1 point to clinch for the Bridge City Bunch as they sit in fourth place in the East Division, two points back of idle Winnipeg. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…
Saskatoon Blades 0 at Prince Albert Raiders 3 – Status: Final
Saturday, February 29, 2020 – Art Hauser Centre – Prince Albert, SK
Saskatoon 0 0 0 – 0
Prince Albert 2 1 0 – 3
1st Period-1, Prince Albert, Guhle 10 (Wiesblatt, Usau), 8:44 (PP). 2, Prince Albert, Nachbaur 8 (Kosior, Moe), 18:28 (PP). Penalties-Wouters Sas (inter. on goaltender), 8:15; Walford Sas (holding), 11:52; Guhle Pa (roughing), 11:52; McKay Sas (tripping), 12:01; Robins Sas (cross checking), 16:47.
2nd Period-3, Prince Albert, Stepanov 6 (Nachbaur), 5:58. Penalties-Wiens Sas (high sticking), 7:24; McKay Sas (high sticking, high sticking), 10:42; Nachbaur Pa (interference), 10:42; Huber Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:17; Masella Pa (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:17; Guhle Pa (roughing), 17:59.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Hayes Pa (interference), 2:52; Kneen Sas (cross checking), 12:10; Horon Pa (cross checking), 12:10; Walford Sas (tripping), 12:47; Robins Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 14:42; Allan Pa (interference), 14:42; served by Morozoff Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 18:49; Huber Sas (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 18:49; Rhinehart Sas (cross checking), 18:49; Hayes Pa (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 18:49; Herman Pa (roughing), 18:49.
Shots on Goal-Saskatoon 5-9-4-18. Prince Albert 27-7-9-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Saskatoon 0 / 2; Prince Albert 2 / 7.
Goalies-Saskatoon, Maier 19-18-1-3 (43 shots-40 saves). Prince Albert, Paddock 21-16-3-4 (18 shots-18 saves).
A-2,934
Referees-Adam Bloski (16), Mike Langin (67).
Linesmen-Tanner McGregor (55), Troy Semenchuk (65).
