Raiders Stymied By Paddock In Loss To Pats
Prince Albert, SK – For the second straight outing, the Prince Albert Raiders (23-25-9-2) ran into a hot goalie.
On Monday afternoon at the Art Hauser Centre, it was Max Paddock of the Regina Pats (32-24-5-1) who made 37 saves to backstop his side to a 3-1 victory over the Raiders.
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The Pats opened the scoring 7:23 into the contest. Nick Henry’s wrist shot went off of a Raider defender’s stick and past Ian Scott to make it a 1-0 game.
Midway through the game, the Raiders had a great opportunity to get on the board with a five-on-three advantage. Liam Schioler received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for checking Kody McDonald from behind shortly after Jake Leschyshyn was called for cross checking. However, without McDonald or Vojtech Budik, who was a late scratch in the contest, the Raiders were unable to find the equalizer. McDonald eventually returned in the second period.
Late in the period, the Pats extended their lead. Jared Legien pounced on a rebound at the side of the net and slid it through Scott to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes.
In the second, the Raiders kept pressing Paddock and the Pats and eventually broke through. Brett Leason wired a wrister past the Regina netminder to cut the lead in half with 6:06 to play in the period.
The Raiders came out firing in the third period to tie the game, but Paddock kept is team in the game. Midway through the period, Leason dangled around a Pats defenceman and fired a shot on goal that beat Paddock, but not the post.
In the dying moments with the Raiders’ net empty, McDonald threw a cross-ice pass to Parker Kelly who was robbed by Paddock. Shortly after the save, Matt Bradley’s clearing attempt found the back of the Raiders’ net to wrap up the scoring at 3-1.
Scott stopped 21 shots in a losing effort for the Raiders.
Up next for the Raiders is a trip through the Central Division this week, beginning on Wednesday night in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes at the Enmax Centre. Game time is 8 p.m.
The Raiders return to the Art Hauser Centre on Tuesday, February 27 when the Brandon Wheat Kings visit Prince Albert. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at raiderhockey.com, the Raider Office, or by calling 306-764-5348.
