By Jeff D'Andrea

Ex-Raider Coghlan basks in Blades’ win over P.A.

Dec 27, 2014 | 9:05 PM

Saskatoon Blades defenceman Ryan Coghlan may have been the most excited person in the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday.

Coghlan enjoyed a 6-3 victory over his former team, the Prince Albert Raiders, which broke the Blades’ 11-game losing streak—dating back to Nov. 25.

All the Blades were visibly excited after the upset, but Coghlan was by far the most animated as he triumphantly raised both his hands over his head—gliding towards the crease.

“It’s obviously a special moment winning against your old team,” said Coghlan, who joined the Raiders last year and is in his second stint with the Blades. “It’s a great atmosphere in this place and it’s hard to play against. The fans are pretty tough on you and P.A.’s a pretty good team—we’ll give them that. They’re pretty well coached.”

The Blades dominated the start of the game, leading 2-0 in the opening 8:39 of the game with a pair of goals from sniper Sam McKechnie. The Blades also owned the shot clock by 10-2 in that frame.

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

1h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

16h ago

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

20h ago

Although the Raiders were able to battle back and tie it 2-2 in the second and 3-3 in the third period, Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid was less than pleased of his team’s effort throughout the game—not just their poor start.

“We weren’t good the whole game, we got what we deserved tonight,” said Habscheid. “We were a turnover machine tonight, we gave them chance after chance.

“We’d get possession of the puck and we’d give it back to them, we did that all game.”

The Raiders power play kept them in the game as they scored all three of their goals on the man-advantage on five opportunities.

Raiders assistant captain Reid Gardiner scored on power play clapbomb from the point late in the first, then Jordan Tkatch crashed the net early in the second.

After Mason McCarty restored the Blades lead late in the second, Jayden Hart tied the game once again with a man-advantage, rebound goal.

“When you rely on (the power play), that becomes dangerous,” said Habscheid. “A lot of times, penalty kill can shut those things down. What we don’t is to wait for the power play.

“I thought 5-on-5, we didn’t generate that much and we didn’t spend a lot of time in their end. We were a step behind most of the game.”

Gardiner said the Raiders would have had more attack time had they been hungrier on rebounds and getting traffic in front of the Blades’ crease.

“I think we just have to get to the net more. We got pucks to the net, but not enough bodies,” said Gardiner, who’s Raiders 37-31 in the game. “The rebounds were kind of there, but we were just a step or two late. Just like Marc said, I don’t think we can rely on the power play—it’s a small part of the game.

“It’s nice to score three goals, but we need more effort and determination in front of the net 5-on-5.”

Blades European import Nikita Soshnin scored the go-ahead goal with exactly 10 minutes remaining to put the Blades up 4-3. Ryan Graham then potted two empty-netters late to put the game out of reach.

Rylan Parenteau made 25 saves on 29 shots for the Raiders as he was saddled with the loss.

Blades rookie goaltender Trevor Martin stopped 34 of 37 for the slump-breaking win.

Draisaitl departure?

Over the last week , the rumour mill has been swirling around Leon Draisaitl. Several media members, including Gregg Drinnan and Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson have suggested Draisaitl’s rights could be deal to the Kelowna Rockets.

In Matheson’s piece, he noted the Oilers’ general manager Craig MacTavish has ties to Kelowna and Rockets’ general manager Bruce Hamilton.

Raiders general manager Bruno Campese has ties to Kelowna as well. Not only has he made two deals with the Rockets this month and one last year (the MacKenzie Johnston deal), but Campese also lives there in the offseason.

Gone for two, see ya Friday

The Raiders will play their next two games on the road, playing a rematch against the Blades on Sunday, before travelling to Brandon to play the Wheat Kings on Wednesday, the top-ranked team in the WHL Eastern Conference.

The Raiders will return home to host the Everett Silvertips on Friday.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea