Raiders roughed up by the Blades 7-2 and start year with 3 goalies

In fact, the Raiders fell apart in a sloppy second period. They were outscored 3-0 and outshot 13-4 in the second period and faced a 5-2 hole in the third period.

“In the second period, our structure went right out the window and our work ethic [followed],” said Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid. “We started cheating on the offensive side of the puck, we didn’t have structure, we just played shinny.”

Ten different Blades registered at least a point in the game. A pair of them had four points: Connor Gay (two goals, two assists) and Cameron Hebig (one goal, three assists).

“I think a lot went right,” said Blades head coach and general manager Bob Woods. “You’re always happy when you score seven goals. On the power play, we did a lot of experimenting when we got up there.

“I’m happy we kept it to two goals. I think sometimes when you’re scoring them goals, you kinda ease up on the defensive play and you let them get one or two more and it takes the fun out of it.”

Three-headed monster in Raiders goal

The Raiders are one of nine WHL teams to start the year with three goaltenders: 19-year-old Rylan Parenteau, 18-year-old Nick McBride and 16-year-old Ian Scott.

Parenteau, who’s from Saskatoon, played in front of his hometown crowd on Friday with Scott as his backup and McBride as the scratched.

Parenteau was pulled after surrendering five goals on 21 shots. In relief, Scott stopped 12 of 14.

“There’s no doubt, three goalies isn’t the best thing in the world but it will play itself out,” said Habscheid.

Debuts galore

Making their WHL debuts for the Raiders on Friday were defencemen Vojtech Budik and Cody Paivarinta, forwards Josh Maser and Parker Kelly, and goaltender Ian Scott. Cal Babych played his first game for the Raiders after being traded on Sept. 18 from the Prince George Cougars.

Guhle still with the Sabres

Instead of playing with the Raiders in the season debut against the Blades, Brendan Guhle stuck with the Buffalo Sabres to play the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre Friday. By doing so, Guhle became the only Sabres player to appear in all three of their preseason games so far. See quotes from Sabres’ head coach Dan Bylsma and Guhle himself here.

Since he’s 18, Guhle will have to either make the Sabres outright to make the team or be reassigned back to the Raiders.

Not returning to the Raiders is Mackenze Stewart, who was reassigned to the Utica Comets on Sept. 22. The Comets are the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, who drafted Stewart in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Looking ahead

The Raiders will finish the home-and-home series on Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre. They will then have three more games at home, Friday against the Vancouver Giants, Saturday against the Medicine Hat Tigers and Tuesday against the Kootenay Ice before embarking on their American road trip Oct. 10-17.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders roughed up by the Blades 7-2 and start year with 3 goalies

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