Prince Albert Raiders Favored in WHL Playoff Series Against Saskatoon Blades
The Prince Albert Raiders enter their second-round Western Hockey League playoff series against the Saskatoon Blades as the heavy favorites over their Highway 11 rivals. This matchup renews one of the great rivalries in the WHL, with the Raiders having dominated the regular season series.
Regular Season Dominance
The Raiders won six of eight regular season games against the Blades this season, establishing clear superiority in their head-to-head matchups. The teams split their season-opening weekend contests, with Prince Albert winning 4-2 at home on September 19th and the Blades rebounding with a 3-2 overtime victory in Saskatoon on September 20th.
They split their next two contests as well, with the Raiders winning 5-4 on the road on December 14th and the Blades responding with a 4-0 shutout in Prince Albert on January 31st. From that point forward, the Raiders took complete control of the season series.
The Raiders dominated the final four meetings:
- A 3-1 victory in Saskatoon on February 1st
- A 5-4 win at home on February 14th
- Back-to-back 4-0 shutouts at home on March 20th and on the road on March 21st
Overall, the Raiders posted an impressive 52-10-5-1 record during the regular season, accumulating 110 points to finish first in the Eastern Division and second overall in the WHL. The Blades finished with a 34-27-5-2 record for 75 points, placing sixth in the Eastern Division.
First Round Results
The Blades pulled off the upset of the first round, knocking off the third-seeded Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 in their best-of-seven series. Three of those contests went to overtime, with the Blades stunning the favored Oil Kings in overtime during the decisive seventh game in Edmonton.
The Raiders needed just five games to eliminate the eighth-seeded Red Deer Rebels, outscoring their opponents 21-10 in the series. This dominant performance reinforced their status as legitimate championship contenders.
Series Schedule and Logistics
Games 1 and 2 are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. Games 3 and 4 will shift to SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon on April 14th and 15th. If necessary, Game 5 would return to Prince Albert on April 17th, Game 6 would be in Saskatoon on April 19th, and Game 7 would take place in Prince Albert on April 21st.
Puck drop for every game is scheduled for 7 p.m., except for Game 6 which would have a 4 p.m. start time if that contest becomes necessary.
The travel for both teams will be substantially less demanding this round. Rather than making the lengthy trips back and forth to Alberta communities, the Blades' and Raiders' home arenas are just 134 kilometers apart along Highway 11.
Potent Raiders Offence
Prince Albert brings offensive firepower that was surpassed by only one team during the regular season. The Raiders scored 310 goals in 68 regular season games, the second-most in the entire WHL behind only the Medicine Hat Tigers. This scoring prowess presents a significant challenge for the Blades' defensive systems.
Blades coach Dan DaSilva emphasized that his team's recipe for success remains unchanged from the regular season to the playoffs: "The 20 guys that are dressed, going out there and playing the way we need them to play to have success." This underdog mentality served the Blades well in their first-round upset and will be crucial as they face the heavily favored Raiders.
