Macias nets hat trick as Raiders explode for 6-2 win over Rebels
The Prince Albert Raiders began the first leg of their Alberta road trip on the right foot, taking down the Red Deer Rebels 6-2 on Friday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Krzysztof Macias tallied his first career hat trick, while Niall Crocker had a four assist night. Max Hildebrand stopped 33 of 35 shots for his second win of the season.
The Raiders scored twice early to take a 2-0 lead. Krzysztof Macias started things off with a shot from the point that fooled Chase Wutzke high. His third goal of the season put Prince Albert up 1-0 with 17:15 left in the first. Less than two minutes later, the Raiders scored again, this time doing so on the powerplay. Aiden Oiring scored a shot similar to Macias’, as he ripped a shot high, going bar down past Wutzke. His second goal of the season gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead early into the game.
With 12:50 left in the first, Red Deer cut that lead in half, scoring on a powerplay of their own. Mats Lindgren let go of a shot that former Raider Carson Latimer got a tip on, and he deflected it home. Latimer’s second goal of the season made it a 2-1 Raiders lead.
The Rebels nearly tied it up on another powerplay late in the first period. Jhett Larson wrapped around the net and tried to slip a shot home, but Max Hildebrand made a big pad save to keep it a 2-1 game. The Rebels outshot the Raiders 15-8 in the first period, but Prince Albert took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
4:13 into the second period, Macias scored his second goal of the night, as he converted on a beautiful passing play with Matej Kubiesa. Working his way into the zone, Kubiesa dropped the puck off for Kubiesa at the right wing, and the latter quickly fed the puck back. Macias cut in front of the crease and slipped a shot home for his fourth goal of the season, and it gave the Raiders a 4-1 lead.
With 10:14 to go in the second, Macias completed his first WHL hat trick. After Niall Crocker was hooked on a breakaway, it looked like he was going to get a penalty shot. It didn’t matter, however, as a centering pass just seconds later found the stick of Macias, and he buried his third goal of the night. His fifth goal of the season gave the Raiders a commanding 4-1 lead midway through the second period.
With 7:22 left in the second, Ryder Ritchie got in on the scoring action with Prince Albert’s third powerplay goal of the contest. From the left circle, Sloan Stanick fed a pass for Niall Crocker down low, and he fed a pass in front for Ritchie, who had an easy tap in. Ritchie’s third goal of the year put the Raiders up by four, as it became a 5-1 lead.
With two minutes left in the second period, Ritchie scored his second goal of the period and of the game. From an impossible angle on the goal line in the corner, Ritchie fired a shot on goal that went off Rebels’ netminder Rhett Stoesser’s stick and in. The goal was Ritchie’s fourth of the season, and it gave the Raiders a 6-1 lead after two periods.
The Rebels got one back with 6:35 left in the third period, as they scored on the powerplay. After an effort from Talon Brigley was stopped, Latimer was on the doorstep to bang home his second goal of the night, making it a 6-2 Raider lead.
The Raiders were able to contain Red Deer the rest of the way, as they picked up their first road win of the season by a 6-2 final.
Prince Albert (3-3-0-0) wraps up their two game road trip tomorrow night in Edmonton. Puck drop is 7pm.