By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders fall to 0-4 in WHL preseason; Blades 8 Raiders 6

Sep 12, 2015 | 9:44 PM

WARMAN— The Prince Albert Raiders are still winless through four WHL preseason contests. They dropped an 8-6 decision Saturday against the Saskatoon Blades in an exhibition match at the Legends Centre in Warman. The Raiders now have an 0-3 record against the Blades when both teams meet in Warman. The loss puts their record now at 0-4, making the Raiders the only team in the WHL yet to pick up a preseason win.

Cameron Hebig and Nick Zajac each had two goal, five-point nights for the Blades in their victory. Hebig also had a hat trick in Friday’s 6-3 Blades win at the Art Hauser Centre.

The Raiders stormed out of the gates, leading 4-1 after the opening frame and 17-8 on the shot clock.

Cody Paivarinta scored his first of the preseason, before Blades defenceman Mitchell Wheaton tied the game.

The Raiders then scored three consecutive goals to end the period courtesy of Sean Montgomery, Tim Vanstone and Parker Kelly.

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Kelly’s goal was his fourth point of the preseason to lead the Raiders in that category. It was also his second goal, to be tied for the team lead as well.

But it all started to come together for the Blades, who battled back in the second. Cameron Hebig had a pair of goals and Nick Zajac added one to tie the game. On Friday in Prince Albert, Hebig had a hat trick against the Raiders in a 6-3 Blades victory.

Dalton Yorke regained the Raiders’ lead with a bar-down snipe on the power play late in the second period. That made it a 5-4 Raiders score heading into the third period.

The Blades added another four consecutive goals in the third from Luke Gingras, Libor Hajek, Connor Gay and Nick Zajac. Craig Leverton stopped the bleeding late for the Raiders.

Raiders goaltender Curtis Meger made 10 saves on 16 shots in the second half of the game. Ian Scott started the match, making 11 saves on 13 shots.

Nik Amundrud went the distance for the Blades, making 23 saves on 29 shots.

The Raiders will head to Regina to play the Pats on Wednesday, before closing out their preseason on Friday at the Art Hauser Centre, also against the Pats.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders fall to 0-4 in WHL preseason; Blades 8 Raiders 6

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