Raiders offence explodes in 7-3 win over Wheat Kings
The Prince Albert Raiders rebounded nicely from a setback last night in Saskatoon, as they beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 7-3 on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre. Krzysztof Macias, Niall Crocker, and Sloan Stanick all had two goals in the win, while Oli Chenier was the other Raider goal scorer.
The Wheat Kings scored just 10 seconds into the game, creating a two on one rush after winning the opening faceoff. Skating down the right wing, Caleb Hadland sent a cross crease pass to Flamand, and he was able to deflect home his 17th goal of the season to put the Wheat Kings on top 1-0 early.
Sloan Stanick responded with 16:03 left in the first, scoring the game’s tying goal after Aiden Oiring won a puck battle along the half wall. Oiring passed to Stanick at the point, and the overage forward stepped to the high slot and fired a shot low past Ethan Eskit. Stanick’s 22nd goal of the season made it a 1-1 game.
Brandon responded less than three minutes later on their first powerplay of the game. Brett Hyland got credit for the goal on a somewhat broken play. A shot from Andrei Maliavin at the point hit traffic in front of the net, but Hyland was able to grab the rebound from the pile in the slot. The Wheat Kings forward chopped a shot on goal that trickled its way past Hildebrand. His 29th goal of the season gave the visitors a 2-1 lead with 13:25 left in the first.
Krzysztof Macias brought the Raiders back onto even terms with 11:30 left in the first period, scoring in front of his parents for the first time in a Raider uniform. After a point shot from Doogan Pederson was stopped by Eskit, Macias found the rebound kicked out in the slot and fired a shot past Brandon’s netminder. Macias grabbed his 17th goal of the season, much to the delight of his family in section 4, and it tied the game at 2-2.
Prince Albert took their first lead of the game with 9:10 left in the first, as Oli Chenier scored on their first powerplay of the contest. Terrell Goldsmith took a slapshot that was kicked away by Eskit, but he left the rebound sitting right in front of the net. Jumping all over it was Chenier, who guided home his 10th goal of the season to give the Raiders their first lead of the night.
The Wheat Kings came close to tying the game late in the first, but Hildebrand had other ideas in goal for Prince Albert, coming up with a huge glove save. After Goldsmith delivered a booming hit on the boards to Quinn Mantei, the puck was rolled around the wall and held in by the Wheat Kings at the blue line. Taking a pass along the goal line was Jayden Wiens, who was looking for options in front of the net. Cutting towards the crease was Dominik Petr, who took a pass from Wiens, and the import forward tried to score on a backhand shot. Staying with the play was Hildebrand, who made an incredible glove save, throwing a little windmill action in it as well.
After an entertaining opening 20 minutes of hockey, the Raiders went into the second period with a 3-2 lead, also leading 17-9 in shots.
The two sides exchanged goals in the second period. With the Raiders shorthanded, Niall Crocker, Turned McMillen, and Eric Johnston entered the Brandon zone on an odd man rush. Crocker sent a pass to McMillen in the slot, who gave a pass right back to Crocker. The right handed shot of Crocker blasted home a one timer from the left circle past Eskit, giving the Raiders a 4-2 lead with 11:31 left in the second period.
The Wheat Kings got back to within one late in the second, scoring just one second after their powerplay had ended. Luke Shipley sent a pass to Dominik Petr at the low right circle, and Petr fired a one timer on goal that beat Hildebrand.
The two second period goals meant the Raiders went into the third period the way they went into the second: up by one goal. This time the score was 4-3 heading into the final 20 minutes.
The Raiders exploded for three more goals in the third period, as Macias, Crocker, and Stanick all scored their second goals of the night. Macias scored 4:50 into the third to make it a 5-3 game, Crocker scored with 8:17 left to make it 5-3, and Stanick added the final dagger with 4:12 left in regulation to make the final 7-3.
The Raiders improve to 24-25-1-3 on the season, and extend their home winning streak to six straight games. The club heads on the road next weekend with stops in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.