Raiders pick up a point in overtime loss to Lethbridge
The Prince Albert Raiders held a 1-0 lead from the first five minutes of the game, and held it until the last four, but the Lethbridge Hurricanes were able to tie things up late and score again in overtime to come away with a 2-1 win on Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre.
The Raiders scored the first and only goal of the first period at the 4:43 mark, as Linden Burrett found the back of the net for the first time in his WHL career. In his 29th game, Burrett made a nifty move around a Hurricane in the slot, toe dragged to his forehand and ripped a shot off the post and in past Jackson Unger to put Prince Albert up 1-0.
While there was no scoring in the second period, the Raiders had to survive some adversity, as they were forced to kill seven straight minutes of penalties. Rilen Kovacevic was handed five minutes and a game misconduct for a kneeing penalty at center ice, which put them behind the eight ball midway through the frame. With four seconds to go in the penalty, Niall Crocker was given a soft slashing call as he pinched up on Noah Chadwick at the blue line. Despite the penalties, the Raiders survived and killed both of them off.
Right after the penalties were killed, Caden Price was handed two minutes for cross checking Crocker in the face in the corner to the left of Unger. The Raiders couldn’t find the back of the net on their powerplay, and the second period ended just how the first did, with the Raiders hanging on to their 1-0 lead.
The Hurricanes tied the game with 3:36 left in regulation, as Brayden Yager made his impact on the game. Firing a long range shot from the high slot, the puck went past the defending Brayden Yager, hitting Max Hildebrand’s blocker and went in. It was Yager’s 24th goal of the season to even the score at 1-1.
No more goals were scored in regulation, as overtime was needed to find a winner. Dayce Derkatch took a high sticking penalty with 24 seconds left in the third, but the Raiders were able to kill off the penalty that extended into OT.
Tomas Mrsic was robbed on a two on one rush in the later stages of the extra frame by the glove of Unger, and the Hurricanes were able to build from that momentous save and win the game the other way. From the left circle, Shane Smith fired a low shot that trickled under Hildebrand’s arm and over his left pad, winning the game for Lethbridge.
The Raiders pick up a point in the loss, and will look to grab two more on Friday night when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings. Puck drops at the Art Hauser Centre at 7pm.
