Raiders comeback from 3-0 down in the third to beat Brandon 5-4 in overtime
In one of the craziest games this season, the Prince Albert Raiders completed their biggest comeback, erasing a 3-0 deficit in the third period to beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 5-4 in overtime. Brayden Dube scored twice in the third period, while Dayce Derkatch scored his first Western Hockey League goal. Niall Crocker tied the game with just over a minute left in regulation after Brandon went up 4-3, and Justice Christensen secured the win, scoring in overtime.
The Wheat Kings opened the scoring 4:24 into the game, as Marcus Nguyen found the game’s first goal. Nolan Flamand sprung Nguyen on a partial breakaway into the Raider zone, and Nguyen sniped a snapshot past Max Hildebrand on the glove side. His ninth goal of the season gave Brandon a quick 1-0 lead.
Brandon doubled their lead with 2:10 left in the first, as Caleb Hadland found the back of the net. Charlie Elick sent a hard pass ahead to Hadland, who had a clear lane to the net. Breaking into the Raider zone, Hadland fired a hard shot from the left circle, beating Hildebrand low for his fifth goal of the season.
With 20 minutes in the books, the Wheat Kings took a 2-0 lead into the second period, outshooting Prince Albert 14-5 in the opening frame.
Brandon got the first powerplay of the game with 7:55 left in the second period, and only needed 13 seconds to score on it. A one timer from Luke Shipley was stopped by Hildebrand, but the puck trickled between his pads and settled in the crease. Jumping all over it was Dominik Petr, who chopped the rebound home. The powerplay goal was Petr’s third marker of the season, and Brandon’s third goal of the game as they took a 3-0 lead.
The Raiders mounted the comeback in the third period, scoring three straight goals to tie the game. Brayden Dube two goals in 32 seconds to put the Raiders on the board. His first goal came from the bottom of the right circle, as he circled from the goal line to the circle, then turned at the faceoff dot and sniped a shot over Ethan Eskit’s shoulder to make it a 3-1 game.
Dube's sixth goal of the season got us on the board! pic.twitter.com/Y0jNkwi3Gw
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) November 10, 2024
Now on a powerplay, Dube scored again to make it a one goal game. Lukas Dragicevic gave Dube a pass at the right circle, and he scored a goal similar to his first. From the bottom of the right circle, Dube once again ripped a shot over Eskit’s shoulder, scoring his seventh goal of the season, as it quickly became a 3-2 game.
Brayden scores on the powerplay for his second of the game and seventh of the season! pic.twitter.com/SFOURxNJpo
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) November 10, 2024
Not even two minutes after that, the Raiders tied the game, as Dayce Derkatch scored his first WHL goal. After the puck was dumped behind Brandon’s net, Luke Shipley’s pass attempt beneath the goal line hit the end board and bounced right beside the net. Derkatch swooped in to gather it and bury a shot past an unsuspecting Eskit who thought the puck was heading to the corner. The fortunate bounce was just what Prince Albert needed, as Derkatch’s goal made it a 3-3 game.
You always remember your first! Dayce Derkatch will remember this one, as it tied the game in the third! pic.twitter.com/8DmWQJGm2r
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) November 10, 2024
With 6:18 left in the third, the Wheat Kings regained the lead, as Petr found the back of the net for the second time in the game. Taking a pass from Quinn Mantei, Petr blasted a shot past Hildebrand from the left side, scoring the go ahead goal for Brandon, making it a 4-3 game.
The Raiders refused to go away, as with the goalie pulled, they tied the game again with 1:16 left in regulation. From the point, Justice Christensen fired a shot on goal, and parked in front was Niall Crocker to tip it past Eskit. From his office, Crocker picked up his eighth goal of the season, tying the game at 4-4, sending it to overtime.
Here's the goal that sent us to overtime! pic.twitter.com/ubOI5Q6mCg
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) November 10, 2024
Prince Albert completed the comeback just 53 seconds into the extra frame, as Christensen netted the game winning goal. The Raider captain joined Krzysztof Macias on a two on two rush, flying down the right wing. From the left circle, Macias floated a waist high pass towards the net, and Christensen knocked it out of the air and into the back of the net over Eskit’s glove, scoring a ridiculous game winning goal. His third of the season was the biggest so far for him this season, as it sent the Raiders home with two points, as they won by a 5-4 final, erasing a 3-0 deficit to come all the way back to win the game.
LET'S GO HOME pic.twitter.com/di3CoRSMdl
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) November 10, 2024
Prince Albert returns home to kick off a four game homestand on Friday night as they welcome the Tri-City Americans.
