Blades defeat Raiders on Fan Appreciation Night

The Saskatoon Blades used two power play goals to help push past the league leading Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 on Friday night.

“I think we generated a good amount of chances,” Blades forward Max Gerlach said. “The difference in the game was (Ryan) Hughes scoring one in the second and mine in the third.”

There was big fight feel at SaskTel Centre during Fan Appreciation Night.

The energy in the arena was high with the paid attendance of 9,188 cheering loud for their respective teams all game long.

It was a back and forth first period from two of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) top teams.

Prince Albert struck quickly with Parker Kelly’s 35th goal of the year coming less than two minutes into the game.

20-year-old Blades defenceman Brandon Schuldhaus responded for Saskatoon with a goal that sent the game tied at 1 after the first twenty minutes.

Schuldhaus, along with Dawson Davidson and Max Gerlach played the final home regular season game of their junior hockey careers on Friday.

Saskatoon would get their first play goal when Ryan Hughes notched his 30th of the year early in the second period.

However, the momentum would halt for the home side as Prince Albert would control play for the majority of the period.

Blades head coach Mitch Love acknowledged his team did not make life easy for themselves in the second period.

“We had to work harder than we really needed to,” he said. “We got lucky. Nolan Maier made some big saves to keep the game where it was.”

A frantic final frame highlighted the intensity among the two teams.

The Raiders would tie the game at two with a power play goal from Noah Gregor early in the period.

Blades leading goal scorer Max Gerlach would convert on the power play to give Saskatoon a 3-2 lead.

Prince Albert pressed late for the tying marker with constant pressure in the offensive zone.

However, Blades goaltender Nolan Maier would shut the door, making 28 saves to preserve a 3-2 Saskatoon victory.

It will not be long before these two teams meet again. They wrap up their regular seasons on Saturday when Saskatoon travels to Prince Albert for the second half of a home and home series.

Love said his team needs to be ready for a hostile environment.

“Things can happen real quick if you’re not ready to play in that building (Art Hauser Centre),” he said. “They are going to be re-energized so our start Saturday is going to be key.”

Massive 50/50 goes unclaimed

One lucky fan is sitting on a ticket worth a lot of money.

According to the team, as of Saturday morning the jackpot of  $62,345.00 was not claimed.

The winning ticket was 34C-050907.