Tyrone Sobry protects the puck from Hudson Kibblewhite as the Raiders lose 3-2. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders lose 3-2

Playoff atmosphere returns to Art Hauser Centre as Raiders fall to Blades

Mar 8, 2025 | 8:20 AM

In the first of four games in 15 days between the two teams, the Prince Albert Raiders welcomed the Saskatoon Blades to the Art Hauser Centre on Friday night to open up a weekend home and home series. The game was fast and tight checking, and in the end the Raiders would fall 3-2 despite a huge comeback effort.

The game started with a couple of fairly soft penalties that would cancel each other out. Ty Meunier would get a fairly soft hooking call, but the Raiders would get back after a couple Blades collided with the same Raider to knock him down, and Rowan Calbert would get called for tripping, giving each team about 40 seconds of powerplay.

The scoring chances would start later in the period, but the tight checking first period would end scoreless.

After 1: Raiders 0 – 0 Blades, shots 13-12 Raiders

The Blades would get the only other chances of the game on the powerplay when Vojtech Vochvest was given a double minor for tripping when he was caught in a bad positon behind the net that caused an accidental slew foot.

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In the first half of the powerplay, a shot from the point by Brayden Klimpke was stopped by Max Hildebrand on a great save, but the rebound would get picked up by Hudson Kibblewhite and he’d bank it in of Hildebrand trying to get back into position at the 5:51 mark.

On the second half of the powerplay at the 7:09 mark, the Blades would get another one. This time it came from the right circle as Hunter Laing took a wrist shot, and Hildebrand got a piece of it but not all of it, and it found the back of the net.

The Raiders would battle back to tie it and it started off at the 11:10 mark. It started with some great work along the wall in the offensive zone where the play was almost dead, but Brayden Dube and Aiden Oiring would work the puck free and wrap it around the net to Lukas Dragicevic on the right wall. Dragicevic would put a shot on goal from a sharp angle. Dube would get a whack at the rebound to put the puck right on Oiring’s stick, and he’d roof a backhand for his 24th of the year.

At the 15:43 mark, the Raiders would tie it. Another puck coming from behind the net and up the right wall, Linden Burrett would hold the puck on the right point before sending it back ahead for Oli Chenier. He’d put a great pass on the stick for Evan Smith who ripped his third of the season on the onetimer.

After 2: Raiders 2 – 2 Blades, shots 16-15 Blades, 28-28 overall

The Blades got the lone goal of the third period at the 2:07 mark. Justice Christensen tried to wrap the puck behind his own net to his defensive partner, but he fanned on it and Cooper Williams was able to pick it off below the goal line, and he’d centre it for Laing to score his second.

The Raiders would really start to turn things on towards the end of the game. With the goaltender pulled, the Raiders would put the Blades under fire, but Evan Gardner played a great game in net and as a result they would take the win.

FINAL: Raiders 2 – 3 Blades, shots 15-9 Raiders, 43-37 Raiders overall

Despite the loss, the Raiders maintain first place in the East Division due to a 3-1 loss by the Brandon Wheat Kings in Lethbridge.

The Raiders will get a chance at revenge on Saturday as the Raiders head to Saskatoon.