The Raiders celebrate taking a three goal lead in the first period. (Image Credit: Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders win 6-1

Raiders roll through Blades in series opener

Apr 11, 2026 | 2:12 AM

After a full week of rest, the Prince Albert Raiders were primed and ready to go for the second round of the playoffs. The week off was long, first waiting to find out who the next opponent would be, then anticipating the second round matchup with the best rivalry in the league and the Saskatoon Blades.

The Raiders were the rested team, the crowded Art Hauser Centre fed more energy in, and the Raiders cruised to a 6-1 win.

It started just 3:41 in when the unit of Brayden Dube, Brandon Gorzynski, and Aiden Oiring went to work with a beautiful finish from Oiring. Dube took the puck away on the right wall, sent it into the corner for Gorzynski, and he kicked it lower below the goal line. Oiring picked it up and made a beautiful play where he both played the puck off the wall to himself, and spun around a checking defender to gain space. Then, from the goal line, Oiring found just enough space to tuck a wrist shot under the bar short side for his second of the postseason.

Soon after, the Raiders doubled the lead thanks to Daxon Rudolph. First Jonah Sivertson was knocked down behind the net when he had the puck, but Braeden Cootes quickly scooped up the puck and took it to the corner, then spun back towards the goal. Cootes returned the puck to Sivertson, who went behind the net and out the other side. Sivertson went towards the blueline as Rudolph skated into the slot, and as they crossed over each other, Sivertson found Rudolph who tucked in his fourth of the playoffs at 5:17.

Then at the 15:58 mark, Braeden Cootes stole the puck just outside the blue line and skated in on a 2-on-1 with Alisher Sarkenov. Cootes fed a backhand for Sarkenov, and Sarkenov tucked it home for his third of the playoffs.

Raiders win 6-1

Raiders roll through Blades in series opener

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After 1: Raiders 3 – 0 Blades, shots 19-2 Raiders

The Raiders had to kill off the game’s first penalty to start the second period, but they did and started to take the momentum again. It took until the 12:01 mark for the Raiders to score again when Justice Christensen collected a loose puck at centre ice. As the forwards came back onside, Christensen played the puck back to his blueline for Daxon Rudolph, and with the attack reloaded, Rudolph passed ahead for Brandon Gorzynski on a 2-on-1. Gorzynski pulled the trigger to score his third of the playoffs.

Before the end of the period, the Blades earned a great chance with a pass to Hayden Harsanyi sneaking in behind the defence. He made a great move towards the goal and tried to outwait Michal Orsulak on the backhand, but Orsulak kicked out the left pad to make the save of the night.

After 2: Raiders 4 – 0 Blades, 12-5 Raiders, 21-7 Raiders overall

The Raiders got a couple powerplays to start the third period, leading to a long 5-on-3. With the first powerplay, Justice Christensen worked the puck to the left point for Daxon Rudolph. He then sent the puck across the slot and down low for Aiden Oiring, and he wired in the onetimer for his third of the playoffs at 1:31.

Then on the following 5-on-4 at the 2:37 mark. This time Brandon Gorzynski and Justice Christensen picked up the assists when they worked the puck to Brayden Dube on the left point. Dube curled in towards the middle and found a lane to the slot before he fired his wrist for his third of the playoffs.

The Blades did get the final laugh of the night with a powerplay goal at the 10:52 mark. A pass from the right point off the stick of Tyler Parr would find it’s way down to Zach Olsen on the back door, tapping it in to finish things off.

FINAL: Raiders 6 – 1 Blades, shots 11-10 Raiders, 42-17 Raiders overall

Game 2 goes Saturday night in the Art Hauser Centre.

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders roll through Blades in series opener

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