SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Blades opened their Western Hockey League season by sweeping a weekend series against the Prince Albert Raiders.
The Blades beat the Raiders, 5-2, on the road Friday, Sept. 23. In their home opener, in front of 6,302 at the SaskTel Centre on Saturday, the Saskatoon squad earned a 2-1 overtime victory.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, Tyler Parr delivered the game-winning goal for the Blades as they beat P.A., 2-1. Prior to that marker, pucks had not found the back of the net since the first period. The Blades’ Lukas Hansen opened the game’s scoring. Hayden Pakkala tied the game before the end of the first.
For Saskatoon, Austin Elliott allowed in only one of the 25 shots he faced. Max Hildebrand made 14 saves for the Raiders.
A three-goal third period secured a 5-2 victory for the Blades last Friday. The team had led 2-0 at the first intermission. The Raiders tied things up in the second with two goals of their own. The Blades’ offensive outburst in the third netted them the victory.
Egor Sidorov’s second goal of the night was the game winner. Charlie Wright added an insurance marker, while Vaughn Watterodt capped the scoring with an empty net goal. Captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere had the team’s other goal. Ethan Chadwick made 21 saves for the Blades. His Raiders counterpart, Tikhon Chaika, made 26 saves.
The Blades host the Swift Current Broncos on Friday, Sept. 30.
