PRINCE ALBERT-6 SASKATOON-1
Prince Albert leads series 1-0
Game 1
What’s been predicted by many to take place has finally happened. A second round series between the Saskatoon Blades and Prince Alberts Raiders, one of the best rivalries in the WHL. The Raiders lead the WHL in points this seasons and it showed on Friday night.
In the first period it took just under four minutes for the Raiders to open the scoring. A puck bounced out from behind the net right to a wide open Sean Montgomery who was able to beat Nolan Maier. Saskatoon responded when Chase Wouters came out of the corner and spun around and fired a rolling puck over Ian Scott to tie the game. With eight minutes to go the Raiders won the draw and got a point shot that bounced right to Brett Leason who put the Raiders ahead two to one.
The Blades defensive struggles continued in the second period. Saskatoon was unable to clear the puck as both defensemen went to to Brett Leason and left Montgomery wide open in front and he sniped one over the blocker of Nolan Maier. Just two minutes later the Blades fourth line got caught out and let Sergei Sapego walk down the middle as he found Parker Kelly backdoor to extend the Raiders lead to three.
“We played about 29 minutes of hockey. I’m curious on our response on Sunday and curious what it looks like when we actually want to play 60 minutes,” said Saskatoon head coach Mitch Love (Courtesy: PAnow)
In the third period the script was pretty much written. Saskatoon put the Raiders on a five on three that lead to a Sean Montgomery getting a hat-trick. That ended the night for Nolan Maier as he was replaced by Koen MacInnes who made his WHL debut and allowed a short side goal to Parker Kelly to make the final six to one for Prince Albert.
“When they’re the best defensive team in the league, like they are, you’ve got to find ways to fight and battle. We just didn’t have enough of that tonight from our group,” stated coach Love (courtesy: Saskatoon Star Phoenix)
Game 2 goes Sunday night in Prince Albert before the series shifts to Saskatoon on Tuesday.
