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Raiders bounce Blades 3-1; sweep home and home series

Sep 21, 2014 | 12:37 AM

Voice of the Raiders

 

The Raiders completed the home-and-home sweep over the Blades with a workmanlike 3-1 win over the bridge city bunch at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon and they had to come from behind to do it..

Despite creating most of the scoring opportunities in the first period the Raiders would fall behind late in the frame. Amil Krupic would be checked trying to shoot from close range and the puck would trickle in off Nick Zajak giving the Blades a 1-0 lead after one period with the shorthanded goal.

It took only 47-seconds after the 2nd period's opening face off for Tomas Andrlik to tie the game finishing and end to end rush with a backhander from the right wing circle for the unassisted goal.

The winning goal came late in the second after Gage Quinney was denied on a wrap-around attempt, but Dakota Conroy was in perfect position to convert on the power play goal, PA's lone manpower advantage goal on seven opportunities.

Reid Gardiner put the game out of reach with less than 6-minutes remaining, intercepting a Jordon Thompson pass and roofing a wrist shot from in close. Gardiner scored three times in the home and home series

Associate Coach Dave Manson told the 900 CKBI post game audience although it was a solid road effort there is still a lot to work on. Manson also liked how many Raiders were willing to take hits to make plays and had particular praise for Andrlik and 17 year old defenseman Brendan Guhle.

Goalie Nick McBride made 20 saves to record the win as the Raiders outshot the Blades 30-21.

Matteo Gennaro whose forchecking set up Gardiner's goal was also stellar on the penalty kill. 

The Raiders will take a 2-0 record into their next game Saturday September 27th against Regina at the Art Hauser Centre. All Raider games can be heard on 900 CKBI.

dwilson@panow.cm

At Twitter: RaidersVoice   

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