The Prince Albert Raiders were inches away from forcing overtime on Thursday night at the Brandt Centre.
Blueliner Remy Aquilon wrapped his way around the Saskatoon Blades net and found Dallyn Peekeekoot in front, but his shot and a rebound attempt by Reece Vitelli were turned aside by Blades goaltender Nolan Maier.
The Blades would seal their 5-3 victory on the following shift as Caiden Daley raced down the ice to score on an empty cage to hand their Raiders their second straight loss.
“I thought we worked hard but some little mistakes that we made in our game cost us in the end as they (the Blades) were able to put it in the back of the net,” Vitelli added. “If we clean those mistakes up, we have a different result.”
“It was a good hockey game,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “There was lots going on with big hits, fights and good offensive plays… and we had two glorious chances there to tie it late.”
Thursday’s setback, which dropped the Raiders record to 4-8-1-1, spoiled an impressive showing for rookie forward Dallyn Peekeekot.
In just his fifth WHL game, the 16-year-old had a goal and two assists to go along with an opening period fight with overage blueliner Wyatt McLeod.
“He just does all the little things right and it’s nice to play with him,” Vitelli said. “I’m definitely inspired by how he plays and we could follow him with what he brings.”
“Sometimes you get guys that go out there and work with skating instructors and stick handling coaches but you just don’t notice them,” Habscheid added. “With Dallyn, you notice him. He’s a smart kid and he knows how to play.”
Peekeekoot’s strong performances have earned him a spot on the top line with Ozzy Wiesblatt and Vitelli.
The trio did the most damage on offence for the Raiders on Thursday as Vitelli banged home a rebound in the second period and Wiesblatt had a pair of helpers.
“It’s a pretty good mix on that line and ‘Peeks’ does a good job of going to the net to create space,” Habscheid said.
“That’s not something that everyone likes to does as you get slashed and cross checked, but he doesn’t care. He goes to the net and that’s creating space for the other two guys.”
Nolan Allan got his first goal of the season by converting a feed from Wiesblatt and Max Paddock turned aside 33 shots for the Raiders.
The Blades, who snapped a three-game losing streak and improved their record to 10-2-2-0, were led on offence by Tristen Robins as the San Jose Sharks prospect had a goal and three assists.
Daley, Kyle Crnkovic and Brandon Lisowsky had a goal and an assist each in the triumph, which also saw Colton Dach light the lamp and Maier make 20 saves.
The Raiders are now preparing for a pair of games this weekend as they’ll take on the Winnipeg Ice on Saturday and the Swift Current Broncos on Sunday.
Both games will get underway at 4 p.m. at the Brandt Centre.
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