Raiders pick up a point in 3-2 shootout loss to Vees
The Penticton Vees got the better of the Prince Albert Raiders in their first ever meeting on Friday night. However, it did take extra time, as the Vees won by a 3-2 final in a shootout at the Art Hauser Centre.
Braeden Cootes opened the scoring with 6:56 left in the first period, scoring on Prince Albert’s only powerplay of the frame. After a point shot from Daxon Rudolph was deflected wide, Brandon Gorzynski collected the rebound and fed a pass to Rudolph once again. The blueliner swung the puck to the left circle for Cootes, who scanned his options in front of the net. He sent a hard pass in front intended for Aiden Oiring, but it ricocheted off the goaltender Andrew Reyelts, and then off a Vees defenceman, and then rolled over the goal line. Cootes was credited with his 21st goal of the season, making it a 1-0 score.
At the other end of the ice, Michal Orsulak was busy between the pipes for the Raiders. He stopped all 14 shots thrown at him, including some big saves on Penticton’s only powerplay of the first.
Both teams put up 11 shots in the second period, but the Vees were the only side to find the back of the net. Jacob Kvasnicka went flying down the right wing and took a high shot that Orsulak was able to shrug away, but the puck came free after he tried to cover it, as Brady Birnie poked it loose. Spinning at the bottom of the right circle, Matteo Danis fired a shot, beating Orsulak five hole. Danis was gifted his 25th goal of the season, making it a 1-1 game after 40 minutes.
4:33 into the third period, Jonah Sivertson scored a beautiful goal from an individual effort to put the Raiders back on top. After taking a pass from Gorzynski rink wide to enter the offensive zone, Sivertson chugged down the right wing, outmuscling his man in the circle. He then unleashed a wicked snap shot, roofing his 20th goal of the season over Reyelts’ left shoulder. The tremendous goal gave Prince Albert their second lead of the night as they went up 2-1.
The next goal, unfortunately, was scored on a Vees powerplay with Matyas Man in the box serving a holding call. Nolan Stevenson fired a one timer that beat Orsulak glove side, giving the captain his 10th goal of the year to make it 2-2.
With no other goals in regulation or overtime, this contest would be decided via shootout.
The shootout went six rounds, with nobody finding the back of the net until the final round. After Gorzynski was stopped, that set the stage for Louis Wehmann to walk it off. Skating in on Orsulak, Wehmann faked a shot, made a move to the left post, and beat Orsulak low, winning the game for Penticton by a 3-2 final.
With the single point, the Raiders extend their point streak to five games, and will look to get back into the win column against the visiting Prince George Cougars tomorrow night. Puck drops at the Art Hauser Centre at 7pm.
