For the Saskatoon Blades and their fans, this is no laughing matter.
They should be genuinely concerned.
The Prince Albert Raiders have climbed right back into the series with a pair of wins, including tonight's 5-2 effort.
The Blades got going early tonight, with a few solid shifts that turned into a drawn penalty. Saskatoon capitalized with Curtis Hamilton scoring to give them the lead within the first 3 minutes.
The Raiders bounced back with a pair of their own to lead 2-1 after 1.
PA kept coming in the second, adding the only goal of the frame on the powerplay.
In the third the Blades needed a big effort and got it with Brayden Schenn kicking it off just over a minute in scoring on the wraparound. But once again the Raiders had an answer in their own barn. They scored again just past the mid point of the period and then hit the empty net to ice it.
The final was 5-2.
The Raiders goals came from Igor Revenko, TJ Constant, a pair from Todd Fiddler and another single by Mark McNeill. McNeill was a monster and seems to be solidifying himself as a top 10-15 selection for the June NHL entry draft. He did it all tonight for the Raiders. A total package of a player with the size and strength to go with great vision and hands to boot.
A big blow came to the Blades in the second when defenseman Duncan Siemens tried to line up Brandon Herrod for a big hit. Herrod turtled and Siemens ran into the dasher, injuring what appeared to be his leg. He didn't return and the team wouldn't say much else. Neither will I.
This game is going to force the Blades to have to look in the mirror and get back to what earned them a pair of huge wins in games 1 and 2. Things are going to have to change.
Getting back in front of their home crowd should help somewhat, but it's going to take a big effort for them to win game 5. That game goes Saturday night at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon.
Game 6 will go in Prince Albert on Sunday.
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