Raiders finish weekend with 5-2 win over Wheat Kings
The Prince Albert Raiders picked up all four points this weekend, winning their second straight game 5-2 over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre.
Benett Kelly opened the scoring early in the first period for the second straight. At the 5:05 mark of the opening frame, Brandon Gorzynski made a strong move to his backhand to find room in the slot, and sent a hard backhand dish in front. On his forehand, Kelly was able to redirect home his fifth goal of the season past Filip Ruzicka, making it a 1-0 game.
Connor Howe also picked up his fifth goal of the season, scoring with 8:27 left in the first. Evan Smith and Ben Harvey worked together to give the puck to Howe, and the 16-year-old went to work in the offensive zone. In the right circle, Howe pumped the brakes, breaking the ankles of Cameron Allard. Now with some room, Howe sniped a sizzler shortside past Ruzicka’s glove. The highlight reel goal rounded out the first period scoring, as the Raiders took a 2-0 lead into the second, while also leading 15-6 in shots.
Brandon made it a one goal game 5:32 into the second period, getting a fortunate bounce in front of the net. After a big hit was delivered by a Raider along the half wall, the Wheat Kings were able to collect the puck once again, as Nigel Boehm had control at the point. The defenceman fired a shot on goal that was stopped by Michal Orsulak, but the rebound went off the skate of Prabh Bhathal and in. It was his third goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game.
Prince Albert responded nicely after that, scoring the last two goals of the period to take a three goal lead. From behind his net, Linden Burrett sent a break out pass ahead to Braeden Cootes, who turned on the jets through the neutral zone. Cootes slipped a pass to his right for Jonah Sivertson, who quickly gave him a return pass across the blue line. Trucking through the slot, Cootes fired a shot shortside past Ruzicka, scoring in his fourth straight game. His 18th of the season made it a 3-1 lead.
Cootes and Sivertson teamed up to set up the next Raider goal, but this time they worked the puck free for Alisher Sarkenov. Sivertson poke checked a Wheat King in the neutral zone, where Cootes raced to pick the loose puck up. About to take a hard hit along the boards, Cootes passed it forward in time to Sarkenov, who had a breakaway on Ruzicka. From the bottom of the right circle, Sarkenov sniped far side, beating the Brandon netminder blocker side for his 15th goal of the season.
With 40 minutes in the books, the Raiders had a comfortable 4-1 lead heading into the third.
Cameron Allard struck on a Wheat Kings powerplay 5:20 into the third to make it a 4-2 game, but Aiden Oiring responded on a Raiders five on three at the 7:52 mark. The traded powerplay goals were the only ones in the third period, as the Raiders picked up a tidy 5-2 win on home ice.
Next up for Prince Albert is a meeting with the Regina Pats at the Art Hauser Centre on Tuesday night. Puck drops at 7pm.
