Saskatoon Blades beat Prince Albert Raiders 5:2 in the WHL on Saturday evening. The result ended a run of four straight away wins for the visitors against their hosts this season. Both sides had played one game in the new campaign before this fixture.
The Blades had won their opener 7:2 against Swift Current Broncos the night before. Prince Albert had taken a 5:3 win over Moose Jaw Warriors on the same date. Those results meant the two teams carried fresh momentum into this matchup.
Prince Albert sat top of the table after 68 games last season with 52 wins and 16 losses. Saskatoon finished sixth with 34 wins and 34 losses. The standings showed zero points for both sides now — the new season had barely begun. The recent history between them told a different story. In April, Prince Albert won four of five meetings, including a 6:1 victory on the 11th.
The Blades held on grimly after conceding early. They found a way through when Prince Albert looked comfortable. The visitors felt the pressure more as the game went on. Saskatoon kept their side in it and changed the shape at the critical moment. The final score reflected a team that refused to surrender.
The result leaves Prince Albert in control of the tie for now, though the gap has barely moved. Saskatoon picked one up last week and added another. The standings will shift once more games are played, but for this evening the home side had the better of the argument.