By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders can’t break SaskTel Centre curse, leapfrogged by Blades

Feb 10, 2018 | 8:52 PM

Since Sept. 20, 2014, the Prince Albert Raiders have failed to win a game in the SaskTel Centre against the Saskatoon Blades.

That streak continued on Saturday as the Raiders fell 6-3 to the Blades, their 14^th straight loss in the Bridge City. It’s the Raiders second loss in as many days.

The Blades now leapfrog the Raiders for the WHL Eastern Conference second wildcard spot. The Raiders still have a game in hand.

After Jordy Stallard scored a pair of goals in the second period to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead, they surrendered four goals in the final 10 minutes to fall in regulation.

“I thought the second period was definitely our best. We controlled the game and showed some energy,” Raiders associate coach Dave Manson said. “We came off for the second and somewhere we lost it. We thought it was going to be easy.”

THE MED GALA

More than $160K raised during Boreal Healthcare's Med Gala

1h ago

Angus Merasty school site

Old Angus Merasty school site back up for sale

2h ago

ON THE BIG STAGE

P.A.'s best young musicians return for Music Festival's Gala Concert

3h ago

Parks and recreation cancelled Saturday

It was an eventful first period for Parker Kelly to say the least. He scored the Raiders’ lone goal in the first period, but late in the frame, he was ejected for a checking-from-behind major penalty.

Kelly hit Blades 16-year-old standout Kirby Dach awkwardly into the end-boards. Dach did not return from the game.

Better look at the collision. pic.twitter.com/9nWPUSuzMe

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

After the collision, Blades defenceman Marc Rubinchik fought Raiders newcomer Kody McDonald, who finished the fight with a heavy right uppercut.

After the hit, Rubinchik and McDonald went at it. A huge right hand ends it for Big Mac pic.twitter.com/IIX8jrQbyD

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blades, Michael Farren from Kirby Dach and Eric Florchuk, 7:44

Farren gives the Blades a 1-0 lead, 8 minutes in. Blades win the puck on the end boards first to set up Farren pic.twitter.com/L0YMD6JjY1

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

1-1, Raiders, Parker Kelly (unassisted), 8:20

Pesky Parker picks the pocket of Blades captain Fiala 36 seconds later to tie the game pic.twitter.com/R5vEmK10It

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

2-1, Blades, Josh Paterson from Braylon Shmyr and Chase Wouters (power play), 16:39

Paterson restores the Blades’ lead at 2-1. Blades get through the blueline press from the Raiders D, leading to a cross-crease pass from Shmyr to Paterson pic.twitter.com/VcX6lqYRjF

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

Second Period

2-2, Raiders, Jordy Stallard from Curtis Miske, 11:35

Stallard scores his 35th and it’s 2-2. pic.twitter.com/UO7NdNyIuP

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

3-2, Raiders, Jordy Stallard from Kody McDonald and Cole Fonstad (power play), 16:49

Jordy Stallard gets his 2nd of the game after a short review, giving the Raiders their first lead of the game, PP goal at 16:49 mark of second period. 3-2 Raiders pic.twitter.com/veVh0R04BY

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

Third Period

3-3, Blades, Logan Christensen from Dawson Davidson, 10:32

Christensen ties the game from an awful angle, 3-3, 9:15 into the 3rd period. pic.twitter.com/MF0hy2tdZP

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

4-3, Blades, Bradly Goethals from Eric Florchuk, 10:45

Goethals all of a sudden makes it 4-3 Blades. Florchuk strips Martin of the puck, but Scott misses this shot on the blocker side pic.twitter.com/NxzN4YFT9D

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

5-3, Blades, Braylon Shmyr from Max Gerlach and Logan Christensen, 15:37

It’s 5-3 Blades now, with Shmyr getting the insurance marker with 4:23 left pic.twitter.com/syxMOKC2cq

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) February 11, 2018

6-3, Blades, Bradly Goethals (empty netter) 19:57

Early one to wrap up busy weekend

The Swift Current Broncos will visit the Art Hauser Centre on Sunday at 4 p.m. to wrap up a three-in-three stretch for the Raiders. The Raiders fell 5-1 to the Broncos on Friday in the Speedy Creek.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW