The Saskatoon Blades comeback bid fell short Wednesday at SaskTel Centre as they lost 6-3 to the Prince Albert Raiders.
The visitors went up 5-0 before the game's halfway point, making things bleak for the Bridge City Bunch. Blades forward Ben Riche helped get his squad back within two by the 19:27 mark of the third period with a pair of goals. The left-handed shot finished the game with a pair of goals to take the team lead in that department with 23 in 34 games. Riche also leads the team in points with 50 (23G, 27A).
The Blades' win streak ends at three, dropping their record to 20-11-2-2 on the season. The Blades remain second in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with 44 points.
St. Louis Blues draft pick Tomas Mrsic scored the opening goal 6:51 into the first period to put Prince Albert up 1-0. The 2006-born winger has 21 goals and 26 assists in 30 games this season.
The Blades played with fire Monday at the Art Hauser Centre in their first meeting of the season against Prince Albert, taking six minor penalties. Saskatoon killed five of them off and was assessed the lone penalty in the first period on New Year’s Day. Raiders forward Brayden Dube needed just 16 seconds on the man advantage to put the Raiders up 2-0. Despite outshooting the Raiders 15-13, Saskatoon found themselves down by a pair with 40 minutes left to play.
The Raiders kept their foot on the gas to start the second as forward Aiden Oiring made it 3-0 for the visitors.
Rookie forward Riley Boychuk made it 4-0 Prince Albert 9:58 into the second. Oiring picked up his second of the night less than two minutes later to make it 5-0 Raiders. The 19-year-old centre’s 15th of the season marked the end of goalie Evan Gardner’s night. 18-year-old backstop Ethan McCallum went in for relief, providing an initial spark for the Blue and Gold.
Rookie centre Cooper Williams gave himself goals in back-to-back games with 7:44 left in the middle frame. The 2008-born playmaker beat goalie Max Hildebrand from a sharp angle on the goal line to put the Blades on the board.
Riche scored 30 seconds later to cut the Blades’ deficit to three. The Bethune, SK product finished a rush with assists to his linemates Tyler Parr and Brandon Lisowsky. The goal also extended Lisowsky’s point streak to 13 games (12G, 10A), giving the Blades momentum heading into the third period.
Riche brought the Blades within two with 33 seconds left in the game with his second of the night.
Raiders forward Niall Crocker made it 6-3 with an empty-net goal in the dying seconds to seal the deal.
What’s Next?
The Blades welcome the Brandon Wheat Kings to SaskTel Centre on Friday for their fourth meeting of the season. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
