Raiders late comeback bid falls just short in 4-3 loss to Lethbridge
Trailing 3-1 after the first and 4-1 in the third period, the Prince Albert Raiders did all they could to get back into the game scoring twice in the final frame. However, it wasn’t enough as they fell 4-3 to the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday night.
The Hurricanes scored three goals in the first period to take a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes. Brayden Edwards started the scoring off 3:33 into the first period, wiring a wrist shot far from the left circle far side past Max Hildebrand. It was Edwards’ 26th goal of the season, and it gave Lethbridge a quick 1-0 lead.
Ryder Ritchie tied the game for Prince Albert 2:25 later, following up on his own original chance. After his initial shot attempt was blocked, Ritchie grabbed the rebound and went behind the net. The forward saw goaltender Harrison Meneghin off his post, so he banked a shot off his pad, and the puck just crossed the goal line, giving Ritchie his second goal in as many games, and his 15th of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
Matej Kubiesa was served a five minute major and a game misconduct penalty for a check from behind near the boards at center ice, which set Lethbridge up on a long powerplay. Former Raider Hayden Pakkala took advantage of the powerplay, batting a rebound out of midair to score his first goal against his former team, and his 12th of the season to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead.
Pakkala wasn’t done there, as he scored his second goal of the game with 3:26 left in the opening frame, and he did it in highlight reel fashion. Pakkala deked around a Raider defender and perfectly picked the top corner far side over Hildebrand’s blocker. His second goal of the night rounded out the scoring in the first period, as Lethbridge took a two goal lead into the second.
Lethbridge scored the only goal in the second period, capitalizing on another powerplay. After a shot from the left circle by Kooper Gizowski was kicked away by Hildebrand, Dylan Sydor jumped on the rebound to bury his 24th goal of the season. The goal made it a 4-1 game, as Lethbridge went 2/3 on the powerplay after 40 minutes. The Raiders were left still looking for their first powerplay of the game.
Krzysztof Macias brought the Raiders back into the game, scoring two goals in the final 20 minutes. Justice Christensen led a rush into the Lethbridge zone and fed a pass to Niall Crocker. Crocker took a shot that was tipped by Macias and found its way past the goal line. The Polish forward collected his 21st goal of the season to make it a 4-2 game just 1:17 into the third.
Macias struck again with 6:40 left in the third to cut the deficit to just one goal, but his second of the night was set up beautifully by Turner McMillen. Striding down the left wing, McMillen fired a pass to the slot for Macias past a Hurricane defenceman, and he blasted a one timer past Meneghin to score his second goal of the night, making it a 4-3 game.
The Raiders pulled the goalie for the extra attacker late in the game, but couldn’t complete another comeback, as Lethbridge held on to win by a 4-3 final.
Prince Albert was held without a powerplay all game, as they saw their three game winning streak come to an end, as they fell to 29-27-1-3 on the season. The club is back in action on Friday night at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Puck drops at 7pm.