Raiders collect a point after 3-2 overtime loss to the Oil Kings
The Edmonton Oil Kings never trailed on Friday night, as they beat the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 in overtime at the Art Hauser Centre. Gavin Hodnett scored the winner for the Oil Kings 1:56 into overtime, handing Prince Albert their second loss in a row.
“We’re down and we’re chasing the game again, and we come back and tie it which was good,” head coach Jeff Truitt said. “We worked hard and we had some grade A opportunities that we didn’t finish on tonight. We had breakdowns, we got beat off the rush a couple times. Our backchecking wasn’t good, we were lazy on that. This time of the season you can’t get away with a lack of details that led to their two goals (in regulation).”
The game started off with a pregame welcome to Matej Kubiesa’s mother Katerina, and his sister Adela, who were in attendance for their first ever WHL game to watch Matej play. The Canadian and Czech national anthems were played prior to puck drop, while a cheque was donated to the pediatric ward at the Victoria Hospital after a successful Kid Takeover Night on February 24th.
Edmonton opened the scoring 4:39 into the game after cycling the puck around in the Raider end, as Gracyn Sawchyn found the back of the net for the game’s first goal. Taking a pass in the slot from Gavin Hodnett, Sawchyn sniped a shot to the back of the net past Max Hildebrand to score his 16th goal of the season to give Edmonton an early 1-0 lead.
Prince Albert responded with a shorthanded goal less than three minutes later to tie the game. After the puck was cleared into the Edmonton zone, Kolby Hay misplayed the puck behind the net, as he was caught up with his defenceman. Barging in behind the net was Sloan Stanick, who stole the puck, skated to the crease, and buried a backhand shot. Stanick’s 29th goal of the season made it a 1-1 game, and it was also Stanick’s 200th Western Hockey League point.
With 5:50 left in the first the Oil Kings took the lead again, scoring on another odd man rush. From the left wing, Ty Nash sent a pass into the crease, and getting enough of a redirect was Landon Hanson, who just snuck a shot past Hildebrand. Hanson’s sixth goal of the campaign made it a 2-1 game, and it gave Edmonton a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
There was no scoring in the second period, but in the third, Niall Crocker tied the game with 8:46 left on the clock. A point shot from Jacob Hoffrogge was tipped in front by Crocker, and the puck slowly trickled towards the goal line. Crocker got another touch on it as Hay was sliding towards his post, and helped guide it over the goal line. His 21st goal of the season made it a 2-2 game, and sent things to overtime.
Justice Christensen took a hooking penalty 34 seconds into the extra frame, giving Edmonton a chance to set up a 4 on 3 powerplay. And just 1:56 into overtime, Gavin Hodnett fired a one timer home after taking a perfect pass from Ty Nash, ending the game with his 19th goal of the season as the Oil Kings won by a 3-2 final.
“We’re taking penalties with key guys at wrong times,” Truitt added. “When everything is said and done, we don’t finish and they capitalize. The margin of error is thin, and they got the two points and we got one.”
The Raiders are back in action again tomorrow night against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Puck drop from the Art Hauser Centre is 7pm.