The Saskatoon Blades’ European player contingent each played a big hand in the Saskatoon Blades first victory in nine months over the Prince Albert Raiders Friday night.

Czech goaltender Martin Psohlavec (pictured) made 26 saves and was named the game’s first star in his first game with the Bridge City Bunch and in the W-H-L, veteran German winger David Lewandowski made his return to the Blue and Gold and scored the winning goal on a power play with 1:28 left in the third period and Russian forward Yegor Gusev drew the penalty that gave the Blades the power play that Lewandowski scored the game-winning tally on as Saskatoon nipped P-A 3-2. For the first time this season, a furious third period rally by the Bridge City Bunch resulted in a victory – the first of the season overall as the Blue and Gold’s record improved to 1-1-1. The teams played 32 minutes without a goal, thanks to the netminding of Psohlavec and fellow Czech Michal Orsulak of the Raiders. Kazden Mathies opened the scoring on a two-man advantage for the Blades. However, Connor Howe’s power play marker in the final minute of the second period and Ben Harvey’s goal just past the two minute mark of the third frame had Prince Albert in the lead. But, defenceman Jack Kachkowski’s pass into the Raiders’ crease bounced off the skate of P-A defenceman Hubert Clarke and into the net to tie the score with just over six minutes to go in regulation time set the stage for Lewandowski’s heroics. The Raiders had won eight straight head-to-head meetings over Saskatoon, regular-season and playoffs combined, dating back to January 31. The Bridge City Bunch out-shot Prince Albert 16-7 in the third period and 32-28 overall. Lewandowski also had an assist while newly-named captain and defenceman Brayden Klimpke chipped in a pair of helpers for the Blue and Gold. The same teams meet Saturday night in the Blades’ home opener at 7 o’clock at SaskTel Centre with CJWW’s broadcast starting at 6:45. Following are the audio highlights from CJWW’s Friday broadcast, Les Lazaruk’s Post-Game Show interviews with head coach Dan Da Silva, Psohlavec and Lewandowski as well as the first intermission “Other Side” interview with Raiders’ General Manager Curtis Hunt, plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L website…..

SASKATOON Goals SASKATOON PLAYERS (plus) PRINCE ALBERT PLAYERS (minus) Per. Time  G-As1-As2 2nd 12:00 PP  77-4-11 3rd 13:59  37-27 4 16 27 37 77 8 12 23 24 32 3rd 18:32  11-4-16 4 11 16

PRINCE ALBERT Goals PRINCE ALBERT PLAYERS (plus) SASKATOON PLAYERS (minus) Per. Time  G-As1-As2 2nd 19:44 PP  22-7-32 3rd 2:02  20-15-17 3 14 15 17 20 4 55 71 73 88