Raiders complete third period comeback to beat Winterhawks 4-2
After trailing 2-0 through 40 minutes, the Prince Albert Raiders came to life in the third period. The Raiders scored four straight goals in the final frame to take a 4-2 win over the Portland Winterhawks.
The Raiders had a handful of chances to open the scoring in the first period, but just couldn’t find a way to capitalize. With 1:46 to go in the frame, it was Portland who was able to take advantage shorthanded, as Prince Albert’s powerplay could not click at all. Carter Sotheran led a two on one rush down the ice, and gave a perfect cross ice pass to Alex Weiermair. Taking a hard one timer, Weiermair beat Michal Orsulak glove side, scoring his ninth goal of the season to open the scoring.
Prince Albert was heavily outplayed in the second period, outshot 12-4 in the middle frame. Sam Spehar found the back of the net at the 10:55 mark of the second, finding the puck in the slot and sniping a shot home top corner over Orsulak’s glove. That made it a 2-0 game after 40 minutes with Spehar’s third goal of the season.
Then in the third, it was like a flip got switched on for the Raiders, as they came alive and dominated the final frame. They were able to kill off a penalty to start the third period, and then created some offence after that. Jonah Sivertson led a rush into the Winterhawks zone, and dropped a pass for Linden Burrett. It looked like Burrett was shooting the whole way, but he found Evan Smith wide open beside the post. Smith took a pass from his defenceman and roofed a shot past Ondrej Stebetak, scoring his third goal in two nights. That got things started for the Raiders, as they made it a 2-1 game.
Just past the midway mark of the third, Alisher Sarkenov tied the game up for Prince Albert. He took a pass from Brock Cripps inside the blue line, and made a terrific move in tight, faking a shot before going backhand-forehand to beat Stebetak. It was his fifth goal of the season, making it a 2-2 game.
The Raiders had a four minute powerplay late in the third period after Aiden Oiring was slu footed, but took a penalty to make it four on four play. That actually seemed to pay off for the Raiders, as they were able to turn the play into Portland’s zone at even strength. Brayden Dube led a rush down the right wing, and had Cripps with him down the left side. Dube decided to hold on to the puck, and sniped a shot shortside past Stebetak, scoring his eighth goal of the year. With 1:55 left in regulation, that was a huge goal as it gave the visitors a 3-2 lead.
With time winding down and Portland’s net empty, Orsulak was forced to make a couple of huge pad saves from in tight. After a scramble in front of the net, Sarkenov was able to dig out the loose puck, and he fired it all the way down the ice into the open cage. That was his second goal of the night, and gave the Raiders a 4-2 come from behind win.
The Raiders are now 14-1-3-0 on the season, and have the day off tomorrow before taking on the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday night.
