Raiders fall 4-1 to Wheat Kings
Marcus Nguyen scored twice, while Ethan Eskit stopped 32 of 33 shots, as the Brandon Wheat Kings took down the Prince Albert Raiders 4-1 on Friday night.
A powerplay goal was the difference in the first period, as the Wheat Kings were able to grab the only goal of the opening frame. During the first half of a double minor penalty, Brandon scored 29 seconds into the powerplay. Marcus Nguyen took a pass from Nolan Flamand on the goal line and sniped a one timer home from the slot, top corner far side past Max Hildebrand. It was Nguyen’s first goal of the season, giving the Wheat Kings a 1-0 lead.
Last year’s heated rivalry was quick to renew itself in the first period, as roughing minors and fighting majors were handed out early on. Niall Crocker dropped the gloves with Caleb Hadland, sticking up for Aiden Oiring after he took an open ice hit. Crocker and Hadland exchanged blows and had words for each other after their tilt, and would head to the box for five minutes each.
Near the final minute of the first, Raider captain Justice Christensen got into it with Ben Binder Nord near the penalty boxes. After Christensen took a high hit by the blue line, him and Binder Nord started pushing and shoving. The two would be handed roughing minors, with Binder Nord being handed an extra two minutes.
The buzzer to sound the end of the first period would briefly cool some heads, as Brandon went to the dressing room holding onto a 1-0 lead, with the shots even at nine apiece.
With 2:48 left in the second period, the Wheat Kings took a 2-0 lead. After a good forecheck from Brandon’s offensive line, Dominik Petr took a shot from the slot that handcuffed Hildebrand, beating him over his left shoulder and in the back of the net, doubling the lead.
However, the Raiders brought themselves right back into it with 53 seconds left in the middle frame, as Ethan Bibeau scored his second goal of the season. After Lukas Dragicevic played ring around the rosie, skating from the blue line, around the net, and back up to the blue line, he took a shot on goal through traffic. One of those players involved in that traffic was Bibeau, who tipped the long range shot home.
The late goal gave Prince Albert some life after 40 minutes, as it was just a 2-1 game.
Roger McQueen scored a goal in a big moment for Brandon, as he regained a two goal lead for the Wheat Kings 6:46 into the third period. Skating down the left wing, McQueen controlled a loose puck in the feet of a Raiders defenceman, and beat Hildebrand with a shot from the left circle. McQueen picked up his fifth goal of the season, putting Brandon on top 3-1.
The Wheat Kings would seal the deal with 3:05 left in the third, as Nguyne deposited his second goal of the game into an empty net, giving Brandon a 4-1 win.
The Raiders (1-1-1-0) visit the Swift Current Broncos tomorrow to wrap up their weekend set of games. Puck drops at 7pm.
