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Raiders bounce Blades in preseason opener

Sep 7, 2012 | 11:20 PM

Goaltending was a major factor in the Raiders 6-2 win in Friday's preseason opener against the Saskatoon Blades at the Art Hauser Centre.

The difference was an unanswered six goal eruption in the second period. German import Leon Draisaitl chipped in rebounds from Jesse Knowler and Jonas Knutsen to give the Raiders a 2-goal lead by the five minute park of the middle frame as the 2nd overall pick in the CHL import draft made an impressive WHL debut.

Overage centre man Anthony Bardero beat Blades starting goaltender Nathan Alalouf with a blast to the short side from the right wing circle just over 4-minutes later.

After similar shots from opposite sides in close by Chance Braid and 16-year-old rookie Tim Vanstone victimized relief netminser Derek Davis, Luke Mahura would then rip a slap shot past Davis from the top of the right wing circle completing a 3-goal in 2:23 onslaught as the Raiders led 6-0 after two periods.

Raiders starting goalie Luke Siemens made his 14 save performance look routine, Reliever Rylan Parenteau preserved the shutout through 40-minutes with some point blank saves including a Nick Zajak breakaway.

Kyle Schmidt would finally beat Parenteau at 13:37 of the 3rd period on a point shot during a Blade power play that bounced off a Raider defender and floated over the 15-year-old netminder's shoulder.
Nick Gomerich would round out the Blades scoring with a snap shot high to the short side in the final minute during a 2-on-1 break.

Both teams went scoreless on the power play, the Raiders 0-3 and the Blades 0-5. P-A outshot Saskatoon 35-34.

It was a mixture of rookies and veterans on both sides. The Raiders scratched 9 veterans including Mark McNeill, Mike Winther and Josh Morrissey. Matej Stransky, Lukas Sutter, Josh Nicholls and Dalton Thrower were among the veterans who didn't dress for the Blades.

The home-and-home series wraps up Saturday night in Warman. 900 CKBI's broadcast starts moments before the opening faceoff at 7:05 p.m.

dwilson@panow.com

Twitter: RaidersVoice