Paddock Backstops Raiders to Win Over Warriors

Regina, SK – Max Paddock put up a 45-save shutout as the Prince Albert Raiders (7-8-2-1) picked up a 2-0 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors (7-10-1-0) on Thursday night in the Subway Hub Centre at the Brandt Centre.

Thursday was the eighth career shutout for Paddock and fourth since being acquired by the Raiders at the 2020 WHL Trade Deadline.

Michael Horon and Eric Pearce continued their scoring touch by finding the back of the net on Thursday. Horon has goals in three of his last four games, while Pearce has struck in two of the last three.

The Raiders had an early chance to open the scoring. Evan Herman had the puck at the side of the net at the goal line. He was able to get his shot over Boston Bilous’ shoulder, but his shot wrang off the crossbar.

At the other end, Paddock was busy in the first half of the opening frame. He faced 10 shots on goal, bolstered by an early Warriors power play, and turned them all aside. Paddock finished the opening period with 14 saves. His best of the period was a backdoor deflection on a pass from Daemon Hunt that found the stick of Tate Popple, but Paddock got in front of it.

Before the intermission, Horon got the Raiders on the board. Ozzy Wiesblatt cleared the puck off the glass and out of the Raiders’ end. Horon was able to skate into the puck and enter the Warriors’ zone with speed. Hunt tried to force him into the corner, but Horon got around the defenceman, cut to the front of the goal, and slipped a backhand attempt through Bilous for his fourth of the year, making it 1-0 for the Raiders with 2:19 to go in the opening frame.

.@MichaelHoron goes wide on Daemon Hunt and slips a backhander through Bilous for his fourth of the season!#GoRaidersGo #SubwayWHLHub pic.twitter.com/d4deD96cfT

— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) April 16, 2021

On an early power-play attempt in the second, the Warriors nearly got on the board. A scramble in front of the goal led to Atley Calvert sweeping the puck towards goal. It got past Paddock, but Terrell Goldsmith was in the blue paint and cleared the puck from danger.

The Warriors continued their pressure on the Raiders’ goal to find the equalizer, but Paddock kept turning them away. Eric Alarie was able to get his own rebound and got it past Paddock, but the Raiders netminder reached back with his stick to bat it away from the crease.

Going back the other way, the Raiders were able to double their lead. Pearce carried the puck up the left wing and entered the zone after fighting off a check from Brayden Yager. The Regina product looked like he was going to skate around the net. Instead, Pearce put a shot on goal that beat Bilous short side with 3:23 left in the second for his seventh of the season.

.@EricPearce16 gets his team-leading seventh of the year to double our lead!#GoRaidersGo #SubwayWHLHub pic.twitter.com/9lBS57akRB

— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) April 16, 2021

Shortly after, Pearce nearly potted his second of the night while the teams were playing four-on-four. He picked up the puck in the neutral zone off a Warriors’ turnover, skated into the zone on a two-on-two rush. Pearce’s shot beat Bilous, but hit the post on the goaltender’s glove side in the dying seconds of the period.

Paddock made another highlight-reel save early in the third period. The puck found the stick of Josh Hoekstra at the side of the goal after Kade Runke fanned on a shot then made a pass across the crease. He put the shot on goal, but Paddock kicked out his left pad to keep it out.

Midway through the period, the Raiders were able to kill off another Warriors’ power play. The Raiders’ shorthanded units killed all four of the Warriors’ power plays on the night.

Paddock kept the door shut for the remainder of the game, stopping all 10 shots in the third period to pick up his first shutout of the season. It was Paddock’s first shutout since February 29, 2020 against the Saskatoon Blades.

At the other end, Bilous made 23 saves for Moose Jaw in the loss.

The Raiders are off until Sunday when they take on the Regina Pats. Puck drop is 8 p.m. Catch the game on WHL Live on CHL TV.