Nolan Allan sprawls in front of Tikhon Chaika in the first period of the Prince Albert Raiders shutout victory in Saskatoon. (Submitted Photo/Steve Hiscock/Saskatoon Blades)

By Rob Mahon

Another Chaika Shutout

Raiders earn revenge as Chaika blanks Blades

Mar 13, 2022 | 8:33 AM

For most of the first half of the season, Tikhon Chaika couldn’t quite get his first WHL shutout despite some terrific efforts. Now, with the first one under his belt against Calgary, they’re practically rolling in.

Nolan Allan scored the only goal of the game and Chaika stopped all 31 shots he faced as the Prince Albert Raiders beat the Saskatoon Blades 1-0 in Saskatoon, earning revenge for their 3-2 overtime defeat the previous night. Nolan Meier stopped 28 of 29 shots he faced in the Blades’ crease.

Saskatoon came roaring out of the gate with a heavy attack in the first half of the first period, at one point outshooting the Raiders 11-3. Chaika stood tall, however, with his finest save coming point blank on Blades leading scorer Kyle Crnkovic.

At the end of the first, Rhett Rhinehart stepped up for a big hit on Sloan Stanick and got a healthy piece of him, much to the anger of Ozzy Wiesblatt. Despite giving up a lot of size, Wiesblatt went right after Rhinehart and dropped his gloves. It was a move well respected by the Raiders bench, but ultimately cost them Wiesblatt for the remainder of the game.

Through the second, the Blades had two power plays plus the carryover from Wiesblatt’s instigator but couldn’t solve Chaika. At the other end, Maier was equally strong, with his best save coming on Landon Kosior as he had a chance from the slot. At the start of the third, the goalies continued to go save-for-save. Chaika robbed Jayden Wiens in close after a puck bounced out front to him. Maier, meanwhile stopped a determined net drive by Vladislav Shilo.

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Later in the frame, Stanick got some late revenge for the hit he took in the first period. First, he drew a penalty when he shielded the puck against Tanner Molendyk behind the Blades net and forced him into holding him up. Then, just as the power play expired, he set up Nolan Allan in the low slot, with the veteran defenceman wiring home his fourth of the campaign.

The game was by no means out of reach, however, and the Blades got a power play of their own late in the third with Stanick off for hooking. Part of that power play was spent at 6-on-4 as the Blades pulled their goalie. But with time ticking down, Evan Herman drew a holding the stick call as Crnkovic desperately tried to prevent him from having a look at the empty net. That was enough to put the game out of reach and allow the Raiders to take the win.

With the victory, the Raiders now have sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Their quest to hold it, and perhaps move up, continues on Wednesday when they host the Swift Current Broncos at 7:00 p.m.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP