Raiders on brink of elimination after Game 4 loss to Saskatoon

By Nolan Kowal

The Prince Albert Raiders are fighting for their playoff lives after a Game 4 loss to the Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre.

The Raiders suffered a 4-1 setback at the hands of the Blades and now trail their best-of-seven first-round WHL playoff series 3-1.

Saskatoon can wrap up the series with a win on home ice Friday night.

Easton Armstrong, Misha Volotovskii, Tanner Molendyk and Egor Sidorov scored for Saskatoon while Ryder Ritchie scored the lone marker for the Raiders.

After the Raiders won Game 1 last Thursday, Saskatoon has won three games in a row to take control of the series. The Raiders will try to keep their season alive on Friday.

“We’ve (won in Saskatoon) before in Game 1, so we’re going to do everything we can to bring it back here for Game 6,” said Raiders forward Niall Crocker after the game.

Fellow Raiders forward Sloan Stanick said he knows his team will be well-supported in the Bridge City for Game 5.

“I can’t wait … I know lots of Raiders fans come out and support us, so we’re all really looking forward to it, and we still have the belief in the dressing room,” said Stanick.

“We know what we’ve built in that room this year, and we’re really excited to play in front of our fans in Saskatoon.”

Friday’s Game 5 starts at 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre. If required, Game 6 will be held Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre.