Raiders drop first home game of 2023-24 with shutout loss to Oil Kings
The Prince Albert Raiders suffered their first home loss of the 2023-24 regular season on Tuesday night, as they were blanked 3-0 by the Edmonton Oil Kings.
“I thought our first three or four shifts we came out with a lot of energy,” head coach Jeff Truitt said. “We just weren’t able to put passes together, and there were times where we would just turn pucks over. We have to have that skill element to our game, and we have to make sure that we’re moving pucks quick. When we get caught and come back into our own zone, that’s where we get into trouble.”
Edmonton jumped out to a 1-0 lead 9:25 in the first period, as they cashed in on a scramble play in front of the net. After three shots were stopped by Chase Coward all right in front of him, the puck was swept near the right post. Waiting for it was Adam Jecho, who beat Coward with his third goal of the season, as he gave the Edmonton a 1-0 lead.
The Oil Kings doubled that lead with 6:03 left in the first period. John Szabo led a rush down the ice, breaking down the left wing. With options, Szabo decided to shoot, and he picked the far side on Coward, ringing it off the post and in for his second goal of the season. The goal gave Edmonton a 2-0 lead past the midway mark of the opening frame. They would take their two goal lead into the second period.
The Raiders had three great chances to get on the scoreboard in the second period. Krzysztof Macias had the first with a breakaway, but he was stopped by Kolby Hay. Macias had another chance a couple minutes later while he led a two on one rush, but another shot from the Euro was turned aside by Hay. Cole Peardon also had a chance, but a point blank shot from the slot was denied by Hay.
“Those guys really provided some energy for us tonight,” Truitt said. “With Cole back in our lineup, it’s great for our guys, and for him especially getting into games. Macias and (Matej) Kubiesa played with energy and they kept their game fairly simple. That’s the thing with us, we can’t be a complicated team, we have to be simple; moving pucks, getting going north, and let our speed go to work.”
At the other end of the ice, Edmonton took a 3-0 lead during a four on three powerplay. Jecho sent a pass to the left circle for Vojtech Port, who rifled a one timer on goal. The shot was low and it looked like Coward had made the save, but it trickled through the wickets and in the net, putting the Oil Kings up by a trio of goals.
Edmonton outshot the Raiders 27-20 after 40 minutes, and they also took their 3-0 lead into the third period.
The Raiders couldn’t find any goals in the third period, despite throwing 13 shots on goal. Kolby Hay stopped all 33 shots he faced for his second career shutout, as the Oil Kings came away with the 3-0 win.
“You have to talk about the positives,” Truitt added. “We’re getting chances, but we’re just finding the (goalie’s) chest and not the back of the net.”
The Raiders (2-3-0-2) head to Alberta this weekend, starting with a meeting with the Red Deer Rebels on Friday night.
