Pats outlast Raiders 4-3
The Prince Albert Raiders came back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period, but a goal from Anthony Wilson with 1:43 left in regulation stood up as the game winner, as the Regina Pats held on to beat the green and gold by a 4-3 final on Saturday night at the Brandt Centre.
The Pats opened the scoring with 9:05 left in the first, as Jaxsin Vaughan fired home the icebreaker. The Raiders turned the puck over at their own blueline, and it made its way back into the slot area. Vaughan found it and put it on his stick and fired a shot high over Max Hildebrand’s blocker. His tenth goal of the season gave Regina a 1-0 lead just past the midway mark of the opening frame. The Pats would take that lead into the second period, holding an 8-6 edge in shots.
While the first half of the second period was relatively quiet in terms of scoring chances, the Pats managed to take a 2-0 lead in the second half of the middle frame on a powerplay. From the point, Tanner Howe swung a pass to the left circle for Ty Gibson. The Regina defenceman ripped a one timer that was stopped by Hildebrand, but Sam Oremba was Johnny on the spot in front of the net for the rebound, and he was able to bury a shot home to give the home side a two goal lead. Oremba’s tenth goal of the season would make it a 2-0 game heading into the third period, with Regina leading 18-14 in shots.
The Raiders scored two quick goals early in the third to tie things up at 2-2. Krzysztof Macias started the comeback with a powerplay marker 1:40 into the final frame. Sloan Stanick fired a shot on goal that hit Niall Crocker in front of the net, and the rebound came to the right circle to Macias. The Polish product fired the second chance home, scoring his 15th goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game.
Sloan Stanick tied the game less than two minutes later, scoring on a fabulous individual effort. From center ice, Brayden Dube sent a stretch pass to Stanick, who came barreling into the Regina zone on a breakaway. Stanick sped down the middle of the ice, made a deke, and finished the scoring chance, scoring his 18th of the season on the forehand to make it a 2-2 tie.
Just over two minutes later, the Pats took their lead back, scoring their second powerplay goal of the game. Tye Spencer got the goal for Regina, scoring on a follow up chance in front. Spencer redirected a shot on goal from Tanner Howe that was stopped by Hildebrand, but the rebound rattled around in front of the net. Eventually the puck found Spencer’s stick, and he was able to fire home the go ahead goal with 14:25 left in the third to make it a 3-2 game.
With 1:43 left in the third, the Pats scored an insurance marker, as Anthony Wilson doubled the lead. Streaking down the left win on a two on one rush, Wilson elected to keep the puck, and he fired a shot on goal that just snuck underneath Hildebrand. Wilson’s fourth goal of the season was a big one for Regina, as it gave them a 4-2 lead late in the game.
Brayden Dube did his best to bring the Raiders back into the game, as he scored to make it a 4-3 game with 54 seconds left on the clock. His tenth goal of the season was as close as the Raiders would get, as the Pats would be able to hang on the rest of the way to win by a 4-3 final.
The Raiders fall to 19-19-0-3 on the season, and wrap up a 3 in 3 weekend tomorrow afternoon in Brandon. Puck drop is slated for 2pm.