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By Nolan Kowal
Easton Armstrong scored just 23 seconds into overtime to complete a hat trick as the Saskatoon Blades beat the Prince Albert Raiders 4-3 Tuesday night in Game 3 of their first-round WHL playoff series at the Art Hauser Centre.
The Blades now lead the series two games to one.
The Raiders got goals from Krzysztof Macias, Ryder Ritchie and Aiden Oiring. Saskatoon captain Trevor Wong scored the other Blades goal.
P.A. trailed 2-0 after one period, but eventually forced overtime with Oiring tying the game at 3-3 in the third period before Armstrong’s heroics in extra time.
“Saskatoon … they always come out blazing fire in the first period,” Raiders assistant coach Ryan McDonald said after the game.
“They’re a team that starts really well, and we give up two early and obviously ones we would like to have back. But give our guys a lot of credit (because) we worked our way right back in.”
Both teams scored power-play goals, with Prince Albert going 1-for-4 and Saskatoon 1-for-6. Armstrong’s overtime winner came on the man advantage.
“We just can’t take that many penalties against a team with that good of a power play,” said Ritchie, who scored the Raiders’ lone power-play marker.
“We’ve got to weather their storm early (in Game 4). They come out hard, so I’d say a better start and discipline.”
Game 3 saw a nearly sold-out crowd of 2,930, with standing room only.
Game 4 goes Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre before the series shifts back to Saskatoon for Game 5 on Friday night.
