Raiders fire on all cylinders to even first round series against Oil Kings
The Prince Albert Raiders responded in a huge way in their first round WHL Playoff series against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday night. After falling 3-1 just one night ago, the green and gold put the pedal to the metal and never looked back, beating Edmonton 6-1 to tie the first round series at 1-1.
The Raiders were forced to kill off the only two penalties of the first period, after minors were handed out to Tomas Mrsic and Aiden Oiring just under three minutes apart. They were able to successfully kill off both, but Edmonton was able to get their first period shot total up to 19 thanks in part to four minutes of powerplay time, which Max Hildebrand stopped all of.
With 36 seconds to go in the first, the Raiders took their first lead of the series, as Justice Christensen scored the first goal of the game. After Daxon Rudolph made a great move at the blue line around an Oil Kings forward, he sent a pass across the point to the Raider captain. As he’s done all season, Christensen unleashed a Juice Bomb into the back of the net, beating Alex Worthington high over his glove.
Christensen’s first career playoff goal gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Prince Albert took a two goal lead just 2:35 into the second period, thanks to Rilen Kovacevic making his mark on the series. Linden Burrett threw a fantastic pass in front of the net from the half wall, and Kovacevic was able to get his stick on it and redirect home his fifth career playoff goal beside the left post. He snapped a 16-game goalless drought, and put the home side up 2-0.
Edmonton was able to get on the board at the 6:01 mark of the middle frame, scoring on the powerplay. Lukas Sawchyn was the Oil King forward able to find the back of the net for the first time in the playoffs, cutting the Raider lead to just one goal.
With 10:23 to go in the second, Niall Crocker scored in his second straight game, as the Raiders responded on their own powerplay. Crocker took a pass from Tomas Mrsic down low and was able to make a power move to cut to the front of the net and beat Worthington to the far post. His second goal of the postseason put Prince Albert up 3-1, and they took that lead into period three.
The final frame was topped off by three more Raider goals, as they took a commanding 6-1 lead. Crocker scored his second goal of the game at the 3:04 mark to make it a 4-1 lead, while Aiden Oiring found the back of the net after receiving a nice pass down low from Brayden Dube. Lukas Dragicevic sealed the deal with a rocket of a shot on the powerplay with 7:34 to go to put Prince Albert up by 5.
The 6-1 win evens the first round series at a game apiece, and the scene shifts to Edmonton for Game Three on Tuesday night at Rogers Place.
