Raiders fall 5-2 in Regina
The Prince Albert Raiders kicked off a two game road swing on the wrong foot, as they were defeated 5-2 by the Regina Pats on Friday night at the Brandt Centre. Turner McMillen and Justice Christensen scored for the Raiders in the loss.
Regina opened the scoring with 9:47 left in the first period, taking advantage of a turnover in their own end. After a pass hopped over a Raider defenceman’s stick, Tye Spencer turned the play the other way, leading a two on one rush in the Raider zone. Coming down the right wing, Spencer kept the puck and ripped a shot far side past Max Hildebrand’s blocker. His 23rd goal of the season made it a 1-0 game.
The Raiders tied things back up with 8:33 to go in the opening frame, as Turner McMillen found the back of the net. After a sharp angle shot from Ryder Ritchie was stopped by Kelton Pyne, the puck bounced right into the slot. Tracking it down was McMillen, who fired the rebound past Pyne’s glove, scoring his ninth goal of the season to make it a 1-1 game after 20 minutes.
Regina scored twice in a two minute stretch at the midway mark of the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Anthony Wilson scored his eighth goal of the season, spinning around in the slot and beating Hildebrand to make it a 2-1 game with 10:38 left in the second.
With 8:46 to go in the middle frame, Jaxsin Vaughan gave Regina a two goal lead. From behind the net, Corban Almen fed a wide open Vaughan in front, and the winger fired home his 15th goal of the season to put the Pats up by a pair. Jeff Truitt called a timeout after that goal, giving the Raiders a chance to collect themselves after giving up two quick goals.
Tanner Howe added to Regina’s lead just 10 seconds into the third period, scoring his 27th goal of the season to make it a 4-1 game right after the opening faceoff.
Justice Christensen cut into the deficit with 4:46 left in the third. On Prince Albert’s fifth powerplay of the game, the Raider defenceman ripped a shot from the point through traffic and in past Pyne. Christensen’s 11th goal of the season made it a 4-2 game late in the game.
That’s as close as the Raiders would get however, as Braxton Whitehead sealed the deal with an empty net goal with 1:42 left in the third to make it a 5-2 final.
Prince Albert is back in action tomorrow night in Brandon.
