Raiders force Game Seven with 4-3 win in Edmonton
For the first time since 2019, a Game Seven will be played at the Art Hauser Centre. The Prince Albert Raiders beat the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 on Sunday night at Rogers place to tie their first round series at 3-3.
The first two periods were won by the special teams, as each team struck once on the powerplay to make it a 1-1 game after 40 minutes. Marshall Finnie opened the scoring by tipping a shot from Gavin Hodnett past Max Hildebrand. Aiden Oiring tied the game later in the frame by taking a great pass from Rilen Kovacevic and redirecting home his fourth goal of the playoffs.
In the third period, the Raiders roared out to a 3-1 lead, scoring twice in a six minute stretch. Rilen Kovacevic forced a turnover at the blue line and sent himself on a shorthanded breakaway. The 20-year-old sniped a shot glove side past Ethan Simcoe to bury his third goal of the postseason to put Prince Albert up 2-1. At the 6:19 mark of the frame, Oiring potted his second goal of the game, stickhandling in front before roofing a shot over Simcoe to make it 3-1.
Edmonton would respond, however, as they scored twice in a 1:01 span. Rylen Roersma and Landon Hanson both found the back of the net to tie the game at 3-3 with just over 12 minutes to go, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
With 1:03 to go in regulation, Josh Mori was served a hooking penalty, setting the Raiders up on a powerplay for the rest of the period. After a won faceoff in the offensive zone, Prince Albert only needed 10 seconds to find the back of the net thanks to Lukas Dragicevic. Playing catch at the point with Daxon Rudolph and Kovacevic, Dragicevic got a return pass at the middle of the point and fired home the game winning goal with 52.2 seconds left on the clock. The goal would be reviewed for possible goalie interference, but would stand as a good goal. Dragicevic picked up his fourth goal of the playoffs and the biggest of his WHL career to put the Raiders up 4-3, with Game Seven in sight.
In the dying seconds, Prince Albert survived a very early whistle in the corner with the puck jammed along the boards, as well as a questionable icing call with 1.9 seconds left. Miroslav Holinka let a shot go on the ensuing faceoff, but Max Hildebrand made the save, giving the Raiders a 4-3 win on the road.
It was a monster night for Kovacevic, who scored a goal and added three assists, picking up points on all four Raider goals. Hildebrand stopped 30 of 33 shots in the win as well.
The series now shifts back to Prince Albert on Tuesday night for the deciding Game Seven to see who will play the Medicine Hat Tigers in round two. Puck drops at 7pm.
