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By Jeff D’Andrea, paNOW
It had to have happened at some point.
The Prince Albert Raiders lost their first game in regulation of the Subway Hub Centre in Regina, 3-1 to the Saskatoon Blades on Friday night.
Both teams were tied at 1-1 after the first period before the Blades were able to distance themselves in the second period. On two separate 4-on-4 situations, the Blades took advantage of the extra ice and turn a 1-1 game into a 3-1 lead heading into the third period.
Aidan De La Gorgendiere and former Raider Rhett Rhinehart scored the goals for the Blades to extend their lead.
“We were just okay. I thought we started off slow and Saskatoon played a good game,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “I thought [Raider goaltender Max] Paddock played good. We’ve played a lot games in a short period of time. It wasn’t our best game, it wasn’t our worst game.”
The Raiders pushed in the third period to get back to within one. Habscheid pulled Paddock for the extra attacker with 4:23 left in the third period on an offensive zone faceoff. The Raiders also had a very rare 6-on-3 power play, as the Blades had taken two quick penalties while the Raiders had the extra attacker.
“We only scored one goal in 56 minutes, so we threw caution to the wind,” Habscheid said. “If they get another one—whatever. We had trouble producing chances, creating chances tonight, so what the heck?”
With the defeat, the Raiders fall to 2-1-1 on the season. The Blades upgrade to 3-0-1 to start their season.
The Raiders were on the heels to start the game, as Blades forward Caiden Daley had a breakaway just 12 seconds into the game—but was stopped by Raider goaltender Max Paddock. Daley would shortly after, as he was set up in front by Blades captain Chase Wouters at the 3:54 mark.
Raider assistant captain Eric Pearce earned his second of the Subway Hub Centre, scoring goals in back-to-back games for the second time in his career.
“It’s a nice confidence booster, I haven’t had many of those [back-to-back goals] in my career,” Pearce said. “When you get games like that, it makes you want to keep the streak going. I think my confidence has gone up and I think I’m playing a pretty good game so far.”
Blades goaltender Nolan Maier made 17 saves on 18 shots. Max Paddock made 20 saves on 23 shots for the Raiders.
Scoring Summary
First Period
1-0, Blades, Caiden Daley from Chase Wouters and Brandon Lisowsky, 3:54
1-1, Raiders, Eric Pearce from Nolan Allan and Reece Vitelli, 17:04
Second Period
2-1, Blades, Aidan De La Gorgendiere from Tristen Robins and Charlie Wright (4-on-4), 9:18
3-1, Blades, Rhett Rhinehart from Tristen Robins and Blake Stevenson (4-on-4), 14:48
Third Period
No scoring.
Injury update
Raiders overager Justin Nachbaur returned to the lineup after missing a pair of games with a lower body injury.
Logan Danis was forced to the press box on Friday. He left Tuesday’s game against the Brandon Wheat Kings with a lower body injury, and is listed as day-to-day.
Raiders captain Kaiden Guhle missed his second straight game with his hand injury. He is listed as “out indefinitely” by the Raiders.
Looking ahead
The Raiders have their first back-to-back games this weekend, when they take on the Winnipeg ICE on Sunday and the Swift Current Broncos on Monday.
After dropping their season opener 3-2 against the Brandon Wheat Kings, the ICE are on a three-game winning streak after beating the Broncos 6-4 on Monday, squeezing by the Saskatoon Blades 2-1 in overtime on Thursday, before beating the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-2 on Thursday.
The Broncos have yet to register a point this season. They are 0-4 while being outscored 17-9.
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On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW