By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders close out regular season, fall 5-4 to Blades

Mar 17, 2018 | 10:16 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders wrapped up the regular season with a 5-4 defeat to the Saskatoon Blades Saturday at the SaskTel Centre.

Although the Blades were eliminated from the postseason, they swept the Raiders in the home-and-home series by also winning Friday’s contest 2-1 at the Art Hauser Centre. 

Kelly not a fan of Kirby

Raiders forward Parker Kelly was suspended for Saturday’s game against the Blades, after taking a spearing major penalty after the final buzzer on Blades forward Kirby Dach on Friday. Kelly’s suspension is just a one-game suspension, meaning he won’t miss any playoff games and is eligible for Game 1 against the Moose Jaw Warriors on March 23 in the Friendly City.

Kelly has played 209 games with the Raiders through three full seasons, and the only two suspensions he’s received have involved Dach. Kelly hit Dach from behind back on Feb. 10 and was suspended for one game for the offence.

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The Raiders also scratched minute-munching defencemen in Vojtech Budik and Brayden Pachal to rest up for the postseason.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blades, Max Gerlach from Kirby Dach, 8:48

Gerlach opens the scoring for the Blades, 8:48 into the game pic.twitter.com/Q7Xz1HKPQW

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

1-1, Raiders, Spencer Moe from Sean Montgomery and Max Martin, 16:45

Spencer Moe ties the game up at 1-1 with about 4 minutes left in the first period. Sean Montgomery with the assist pic.twitter.com/YmZZHpEjwm

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

2-1, Blades, Mark Rubinchik from Michael Farren and Caleb Fantillo, 17:45

Mark Rubinchik quickly restores the Blades’ lead, 2-1 late in the first pic.twitter.com/Wrp7PkpQ4p

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

3-1, Blades, Max Gerlach from Mark Rubinchik, from 18:59

Gerlach gets his second on a messy play in the Raiders’ D zone and it’s 3-1 pic.twitter.com/lZkEyiKzPZ

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

Second Period

4-1, Blades, Max Gerlach from Eric Florchuk and Kirby Dach (power play), 9:21

Gerlach completes his hat trick and it’s 4-1 Blades in the second period pic.twitter.com/8WZdXHscec

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

Third Period

4-2, Raiders, Curtis Miske from Jordy Stallard and Zack Hayes, 10:46

Curtis Miske tips home Masella’s point shot to make it a 4-2 game with over 10 minutes remaining pic.twitter.com/DbcUrivPF7

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

5-2, Blades, Evan Fiala (empty net, unassisted), 17:09

Fiala fills the empty net. 5-2 Blades late pic.twitter.com/NEislyCQek

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

5-3, Raiders, Sergei Sapego from Carson Miller and Max Martin, 18:12

Sapego with a water bottle job to make it a 5-3 lead pic.twitter.com/jUydRjkOfp

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

5-4, Raiders, Sergei Sapego from Kody McDonald and Justin Nachbaur, 19:19

Sapego with another just a minute later. 5-4 late pic.twitter.com/Y7zAnXXzDB

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 18, 2018

That does it for the regular season  

The Raiders finish off the season with a 32-27-9-4 record and 77 points, which is 11 wins and 28 points better than last year’s team. After missing out on last year’s playoffs, the Raiders will be preparing for the first round of the postseason with the Moose Jaw Warriors starting on March 23. 

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW