A preview of the first-round playoff series between the Saskatoon Blades and the Prince Albert Raiders.

The one-vs-eight matchup in the Eastern Conference will feature the Saskatoon Blades facing off against the Prince Albert Raiders. The last time these two division rivals met in the playoffs was in 2019 when the Raiders defeated the Blades 4-2 in the second round. A one-sided series in the 2024 regular season, Saskatoon won eight of the ten matchups while collecting points in every game.

While anything can happen in the playoffs, this Blades team is on another level and should make easy work of Prince Albert. The Scotty Murno Memorial Trophy winners have won eight of their last nine games heading into the 2024 WHL playoffs, including back-to-back wins over the Raiders this past weekend. Overall, the Saskatoon team has little to no weaknesses, which is why they are one of the favourites to make it to this year's Memorial Cup.

If the Raiders are going to pull off an upset, they need to ensure they have a lead after the first period. This season, they are 20-1-0-0 when leading after 20 minutes and  25-0-1-0 when holding a lead into the third period. If they can carry leads into the intermission and hold down the fort in the third, they could push this series further than four games. 

Prediction: Saskatoon Blades in 4

Playoff Schedule:

Game 1:. Thursday, March 28, 7:00 p.m. CT @ Saskatoon
Game 2: Friday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. CT @ Sasaktoon 
Game 3: Tuesday, April 2, 7:00 p.m. CT @ Prince Albert
Game 4: Wednesday, April 3, 7:00 p.m. CT @ Prince Albert
*Game 5: Friday, April 5, 7:00 p.m. CT @ Saskatoon
*Game 6: Saturday, April 6, 7:00 p.m. CT @ Prince Albert
*Game 7: Monday, April 8, 7:00 p.m. CT @ Saskatoon

Season Series: 

Saskatoon: 8-0-0-2

Prince Albert: 2-7-0-1

Prince Albert 0 @ Saskatoon 5 (March 23, 2024) Final
Saskatoon 5 @ Prince Albert 1 (March 22, 2024) Final
Prince Albert 1 @ Saskatoon 6 (February 9, 2024) Final
Prince Albert 2 @ Saskatoon 3 (January 27, 2024) Final
Saskatoon 4 @ Prince Albert 5 (January 26, 2024) Final SO
Saskatoon 1 @ Prince Albert 2 (January 6, 2024) Final SO
Prince Albert 3 @ Saskatoon 6 (December 27, 2023) Final
Saskatoon 7 @ Prince Albert 2 (November 2, 2023) Final
Saskatoon 3 @ Prince Albert 2 (October 15, 2023) Final SO
Prince Albert 2 @ Saskatoon 4 (September 24, 2023) Final

Leading Scorers During Season Series

Saskatoon Blades:

1) Brandon Lisowsky 10 GP. 5 G, 6 A, 11 P
2) Trevor Wong 10 GP, 3 G, 8 A, 11 P
3) Egor Sidorov 9 GP, 5 G, 5 A, 10 P
4) Tanner Molendyk 6 GP, 4 G, 6 A, 10 P
5) Charlie Wright 10 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 P

Prince Albert Raiders:

1) Sloan Stanick 10 GP, 5 G, 4 A, 9 P
2) Aiden Oiring 10 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
3) Niall Crocker 10 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 P
4) Turner McMillen 6 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 4 P
5) Ryder Ritchie 5 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 P

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