Raiders forward Aliaksei Protas shields the puck away from Blades forward Chase Wouters. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Raids and Blades

Blades continue to control season series over Raiders

Feb 28, 2020 | 10:14 PM

The Raids and Blades rivalry is rich in its history, and rowdy in its nature.

But this year, it hasn’t been much of a rivalry between the two clubs as much as there has been a domination. The Saskatoon Blades beat the Prince Albert Raiders 4-2 as they continue to roll in the season series.

The Blades are 6-1 against the Raiders this season so far, while the Raiders are a paltry 1-4-2 against them. The only win the Raiders have had against them this year was the 1-0 shutout victory in their second game on the season. Other than that, it’s been all Blades victories.

Special teams were a big factor in Friday’s game. The Blades were 2-3 on the power play, which includes the game-winner off the stick of Tristen Robins with 4:07 left in regulation. That was Robins’ second of the game. The Raiders only received one power play in the contest anand didn’t convert.

Raiders assistant coach Jeff Truitt highlighted sophomore Ozzy Wiesblatt as the team’s best player on the night, as he scored the team’s first goal. But Truitt also said he didn’t get enough from his top players.

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“When you have other guys that aren’t playing at the top of their game right now, it’s going to hurt,” Truitt said. “You have to make sure you’re firing on all cylinders here. It’s a desperate time, there’s not a lot of games left and lots of things can happen in the standings.”

At the moment, the Raiders’ lead over the eighth place lead is cut from eight to six points.

Rhinehart’s revenge

Rhett Rhinehart was the Raiders’ first round pick by the Raiders in 2016, but was dealt halfway through his rookie season to the Prince George Cougars. But after another trade this year to the Blades, Rhinehart was able to exact his revenge on the team that drafted him. Early in the first period, Rhinehart jumped up the ice to deliver a big, open-ice hit on Raiders forward Matthew Culling.

Culling did not return for the remainder of the game. Truitt didn’t have an immediate update on Culling during his post-game interviews.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blades, Zach Huber from Kyle Crnkovic and Scott Walford (power play), 12:06

Second Period

1-1, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Ilya Usau and Justin Nachbaur, 3:40

Third Period

2-1, Blades, Tristen Robins (unassisted), 12:42

3-1, Blades, Tristen Robins from Scott Walford and Chase Wouters (power play), 15:43

4-1, Blades, Kyle Crnkovic from Martin Fasko-Rudas (empty), 18:43

4-2, Raiders, Nolan Allan from Evan Herman, 19:56

Rematch

Both teams will meet up on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre to conclude the home-and-home series. After that, the Raiders will host the Moose Jaw Warriors on Sunday for their third game in as many nights.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW