For a sixth straight playoff series, the Saskatoon Blades have put themselves in a position of needing to come-from-behind after dropping a 4-3 decision Thursday night to the visiting Prince Albert Raiders in Game 1 of their W-H-L best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final.
Things looked really good for the Bridge City Bunch towards jumping in front in a post-season set when Egor Sidorov scored in the final minute of the first period and Alexander Suzdalev tallied in the opening minute of the second period. But, the 2-0 lead disappeared and P-A held a lead after 40 minutes, much to the shock and chagrin of most of the 6,757 fans at SaskTel Centre. The Raiders were back-stopped by Max Hildebrand’s 41 saves in goal and Prince Albert won the special teams battle, scoring twice on three power play chances and holding the Blue and Gold to one man advantage score in five opportunities. After Aiden Oiring, Easton Kovacs, Ryder Ritchie and Niall Crocker tallied for the Raiders, P-A survived a late assault on their net by Saskatoon, who pulled to within one goal on Sidorov’s second of the game with goaltender Austin Elliott on the bench for an extra attacker, but that was as close as the Blades got. The win was the first at SaskTel Centre in six tries for the Raiders this season and it gives them a 1-0 lead in the series with Game 2 Friday night – again at SaskTel Centre – before Games 3 and 4 go next Tuesday and Wednesday in Prince Albert. Game time Friday is 7 o’clock with CJWW’s broadcast starting at 6:45 p.m. with the Palliser Rooms E-Q-3 Cutting Edge Pre-Game Show. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s broadcast, Post-Game Show comments from head coach Brennan Sonne and Suzdalev plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..
Prince Albert Raiders 4 at Saskatoon Blades 3 – Status: Final
Thursday, March 28, 2024 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Prince Albert 0 3 1 – 4
Saskatoon 1 1 1 – 3
1st Period-1, Saskatoon, Sidorov 1 (Molendyk), 19:40 (PP). Penalties-served by Moroz Pa (too many men), 6:50; Minten Sas (holding), 8:33; Johnston Pa (interference), 19:12.
2nd Period-2, Saskatoon, Suzdalev 1 (Saunderson, Lisowsky), 0:59. 3, Prince Albert, Oiring 1 (Chenier, Johnston), 8:41. 4, Prince Albert, Kovacs 1 (Moroz, Martin), 10:53. 5, Prince Albert, Ritchie 1 (Stanick), 14:19 (PP). Penalties-Stanick Pa (high sticking), 0:59; served by Sidorov Sas (too many men), 12:55; Dube Pa (roughing, roughing), 20:00; Armstrong Sas (roughing), 20:00.
3rd Period-6, Prince Albert, Crocker 1 (Ritchie, Christensen), 8:13 (PP). 7, Saskatoon, Sidorov 2 (Wright, Wong), 16:45. Penalties-Elliott Sas (high sticking), 7:00; Stanick Pa (hooking), 8:56.
Shots on Goal-Prince Albert 5-9-6-20. Saskatoon 15-10-19-44.
Power Play Opportunities-Prince Albert 2 / 3; Saskatoon 1 / 5.
Goalies-Prince Albert, Hildebrand (44 shots-41 saves). Saskatoon, Elliott (20 shots-16 saves).
A-6,757
Referees-Troy Murray (34), Mark Pearce (5).
Linesmen-Tanner McGregor (55), Marc Guitard (116).
