Blades end 2019 with home-and-home sweep of Raiders

The Saskatoon Blades are cruising into the new year on a winning note after beating the Prince Albert Raiders 6-3 Saturday at SaskTel Centre.

It was the Blades’ second win over the Raiders in as many days after a 3-2 win in Prince Albert on Friday.

Unlike Friday’s win that saw the Raiders outshoot the Blades 35-15, Saskatoon pounced on its northern rivals early to notch five straight goals, including three first period goals.

Matthew Sanders scored his first career WHL goal 1:50 into the game before Chase Wouters and Scott Walford scored powerplay goals to chase Raiders goaltender Carter Serhyenko from the net 7:13 into the game.

Walford would add his second goal of the game less than a minute into the second period before Colton Dach’s insurance marker at 4:32 of the second period would be all the Blades needed.

Ilya Usau would get the Radiers on the score sheet with two second period goals before Aliaksei Protas added a third Raiders goal.

Usau and Protas each finished with three points for Prince Albert. Walford paced the Blades with three points.

Saturday marked the third straight win for the Blades. Each win has come against the Raiders to widen the season series lead against its archrivals to 5-1. Saskatoon has won each meeting dating back to Oct. 4.

The Blades are next in action on Wednesday to host the Winnipeg Ice.