Raiders put on offensive clinic in 8-2 win over Warriors
Seven Raiders had mutli point games, as Prince Albert cruised to an 8-2 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Monday afternoon. Daxon Rudolph had a five point night, while Justice Christensen had two goals and two assists.
Christensen gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead just 23 seconds into the game, as the Raiders’ top line went to work. A great play by Rilen Kovacevic set up Christensen with a pass in the slot, and the captain ripped a shot home past Josh Banini. His third goal in as many games opened the scoring quickly on the road.
The green and gold opened up a 2-0 lead less than two minutes later, as Riley Boychuk found his 11th goal of the season. Ty Meunier made a great play along the half wall to send the puck into the slot for Boychuk, who was able to get a good bounce on his deflection to find the back of the net. Just like that, Prince Albert took a two goal lead 4:21 into the game.
Just over three minutes later, the Warriors got on the board with their first shot of the game thanks to Landen McFadden. After a point shot by Landen Ward was tipped in front by Ethan Semeniuk, McFadden found the puck near the right post and buried his fifth goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game.
The Raiders took their two goal lead back with 6:47 left in the first period, as Niall Crocker found the back of the net for his first goal of the game. After Oli Chenier led a two on one rush down the right wing, he fed a pass to the left circle for Crocker. The 20-year-old settled the puck down and picked his spot past Banini to put Prince Albert up 3-1 after 20 minutes.
After their strong first period, Prince Albert had a plethora of chances to find the back of the net in the second, but the only goal of the frame came with 1:12 left when Crocker found the back of the net for the second time. Kovacevic made another great play in the offensive zone, threading the needle to find Crocker cutting towards the net. Crocker received the puck on his forehand, and brought it to his backhand to tuck home his 23rd goal of the season.
After 40 minutes, the Raiders outshot Moose Jaw 28-13, and took a 4-1 lead into period three.
The Warriors got on the board first in the third period, striking at the 5:06 mark on the powerplay. Lynden Lakovic sniped a shot glove side past Hildebrand from the right circle to score his 19th goal of the season which made it a 4-2 game.
From there, it was all Raiders, as they rattled off four straight goals. Daxon Rudolph fired a shot from the point that hit a shin pad in front and beat Banini for his fifth goal of the season. Three and a half minutes later, Rudolph took a shot from the point on a Raider powerplay, and Ethan Bibeau tipped home his eighth goal of the season near the right post to make it a 6-2 game.
Christensen found the back of the net for the second time in the game with 4:01 left in the third. He took a pass near the left circle from Rudolph and blasted home a one timer past Banini. With 2:03 left in regulation, Ty Meunier put the finishing touches on a dominant night for the Raiders, sniping home his 12th goal of the season to make it an 8-2 final.
Rudolph picked up a point on each of Prince Albert’s last five goals of the game to finish with a five point night and a +6 rating.
The Raiders head to Manitoba where they will visit the Brandon Wheat Kings tomorrow night.
