Lethbridge scores GWG with 31 seconds left to beat Raiders 5-3
The Prince Albert Raiders were 31 seconds away from picking up at least one point on Wednesday night in Lethbridge, but they gave up the game winning goal in the final minute and an empty net goal to fall 5-3 to the Hurricanes.
After killing off the only penalty of the first period and getting two huge glove saves from Max Hildebrand, the Raiders were able to turn the puck the other way and find the game’s first goal with 7:29 left in the first period. After Rilen Kovacevic won a puck battle against Brayden Yager along the wall, the overager made a great rink wide pass to Ty Meunier. The 16-year-old connected a pass with fellow rookie Riley Boychuk in the slot, and he was able to fire home his 13th goal of the season five hole through Jackson Unger to open the scoring.
Prince Albert doubled their lead with just over two minutes left in the first, as Brayden Dube found the back of the net on a breakaway. Aiden Oiring gave Dube a lead pass in the neutral zone, and he was able to use his speed to cut around Lethbridge’s defence. Sailing down the right wing, Dube cut to the net and buried a backhand shot off the crossbar and in to score his 28th goal of the season to make it a 2-0 game.
The Hurricanes were able to respond 27 seconds later, however, as Leo Braillard cut into the Raider lead. After a shot from Miguel Marques didn’t get through to Hildebrand, the puck came loose at the side of the net. Braillard was able to meet it near the post and tap home his 25th goal of the season. The goal with 1:50 left in the opening frame made it a 2-1 game heading into the first intermission.
Lethbridge tied things up at the 2:48 mark of the second period on a five on three powerplay. With two of Prince Albert’s penalty killers in the box in Oiring and Burrett, the Hurricanes were able to take advantage of their man advantage. Hildebrand almost made a miraculous save on Logan Wormald, but the forward was able to just get enough on his shot to deflect off the diving goalie, as the puck trickled over the line to tie the game at 2-2 with his 30th goal of the season.
Four minutes later, the Raiders regained control of the lead, as Aiden Oiring found the back of the net. After Tomas Mrsic dropped a pass to Lukas Dragicevic in the offensive zone, the Raider defenceman skated down the right circle and froze Unger. Instead of taking a sharp angle shot, Dragicevic fed a pass to the slot where Oiring was waiting, and the centerman was able to direct home his 25th goal into a wide open net to give the visitors a 3-2 lead.
Just past the midway mark of the middle frame, Kooper Gizowski found the back of the net to tie the game once again. After a shot from Brayden Edwards hit bodies on the way through, the puck found the stick of Gizowski, and he was able to pot his 14th goal of the season on a play that Hildebrand had no chance on with the bouncing puck.
After 40 minutes, the Raiders were being outshot heavily by a 30-15 margin, but it was a 3-3 game heading into the third period.
There wasn’t a goal scored in the third period until there were 31 seconds left on the clock. After the Raiders failed to clear the puck out of their own end, Lethbridge was able to keep the pressure on, and Gizowski delivered the dagger. Taking a pass from Logan Wormald, Gizowski blasted a one timer top shelf to score his second goal of the night. An empty net goal with 15 seconds left from Logan McCutcheon sealed the deal to make it a 5-3 final.
The Raiders are back in action on Friday night when they visit the Red Deer Rebels.
