Raiders move one win away from WHL Final with 6-3 game five win over Tigers
The Prince Albert Raiders won 6-3 for the second straight game, as they took down the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Championship, with a chance to move on to the WHL Final on Sunday.
The Raiders opened the scoring exactly five minutes into the game, as there was an early Sark attack to report. From behind the net, Jonah Sivertson stole a loose puck, took a quick look in front, and sent a terrific pass to the slot. Waiting for it was Alisher Sarkenov, who one timed a shot past Carter Casey, scoring his fifth goal of the playoffs to make it a 1-0 game.
The Tigers would tie things back up with 2:50 to go, as Jonas Woo found the back of the net. With the Raiders hemmed in their own zone, Yaroslav Bryzgalov carried the puck behind the net, and found Jonas Woo creeping down from his point position. Bryzgalov gave him a pass, and Woo was able to slip a shot five hole past Michal Orsulak, tying the game at 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.
Owen Corkish struck just 22 seconds into the second period to put the Raiders up 2-1. After Aiden Oiring won a faceoff in the offensive zone, the puck came to Justice Christensen at the point. The Raiders captain fired a shot on net that Corkish deflected along the way, beating Casey low for his fourth goal of the playoffs.
With 11:03 to go, Ben Harvey put the Raiders up by a pair. Brock Cripps jumped at the blue line to hold the puck in the Tigers zone, then swung a pass to the left circle for Maddix McCagherty. Scanning for options, McCagherty threw a hard pass to the middle of the ice where Harvey was, and the 16-year-old was able to redirect home his third goal of the playoffs to make it a 3-1 game.
The Raiders scored their third straight goal with 6:24 left in the second, as Corkish picked up his second of the night. After Brayden Dube fanned on his initial pass attempt to Corkish beside the net, he was successful on his second try, as he connected with Corkish down low. Corkish dragged the puck to his forehand and tried to bang a shot through Casey, but the Tigers netminder shut him down with the left pad. Corkish followed up on the rebound though, and chipped a shot over Casey’s shoulder, as the 18-year-old put Prince Albert up 4-1.
The Raiders outshot the Tigers 34-15 after 40 minutes, and took their three goal lead into the third.
Medicine Hat made things interesting in the third, as they scored twice in the first 10 minutes to make it a one goal game. Ethan Neutens scored just 1:55 into the frame, while Josh Van Mulligen buried a rebound chance with 10:41 to go, making it a 4-3 game.
The Tigers pulled Casey with around three minutes remaining, trying desperately to tie the game late. However, the Raiders took advantage of the open cage, as Owen Corkish fired home an empty net goal from 170 feet out, completing the hat trick to give Prince Albert a 5-3 lead. Brayden Dube also scored an empty net goal with 1:29 left, putting the final touches on a 6-3 win.
The Raiders now have a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Championship series, and can advance to the WHL Final if they can win game six on Sunday night in Medicine Hat. Puck drops at 6pm.
