Raiders return from break with convincing 7-1 win over Broncos
After a 10 day break, the Prince Albert Raiders certainly didn’t show any signs of rust, as they cruised to a 7-1 win over the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday night.
The Raiders shook off their Christmas legs quick, scoring twice in the opening 6:49 of the first period. Daxon Rudolph extended his point streak to nine games, putting Prince Albert on the board at the 5:08 mark. After Max Heise won a faceoff in the left circle, Jonah Sivertson picked it up and swung a pass to Rudolph in the right circle. From just below the faceoff dot, Rudolph ripped a shot far side past Joey Rocha’s blocker. It was his 15th goal of the season, taking sole possession of second place in Raider goals this season, sitting behind Brandon Gorzynski (16).
Brayden Dube extended Prince Albert’s lead to 2-0 less than two minutes later, capitalizing after a booming hit from Aiden Oiring in the Broncos end. Behind the net, Oiring laid out Brennen Hocher, freeing the puck up where it was then collected by Dube. Circling behind the net to the left circle, Dube turned to face the net, then unleashed a deathly accurate shot. His 12th goal of the season was perfect, beating Rocha on the near top corner over his right shoulder.
The Broncos would get one back with 9:25 to go in the first period though, as Trae Wilke cashed in after a good forechecking play by Jaxen Gauchier. After Hocher dumped the puck in behind the Raiders net, Gauchier was the first player to it. He dropped a terrific no look pass back to the slot for Wilke, who took it on his backhand. Switching to his forehand, Wilke snapped a shot home past Dimitri Fortin to make it a 2-1 game.
With 58 seconds left in the frame, the Raiders struck on their first powerplay of the game. From the point, Justice Christensen fed a pass to the right circle for Alisher Sarkenov, who had his one timer blocked in front. The rebound popped free to the left circle, where Riley Boychuk was Johnny on the spot to pot home his seventh goal of the season.
With 20 minutes drained, the Raiders took a 3-1 lead into the second period, also leading 21-6 in shots.
Prince Albert scored twice more in the second period to extend their lead further, but both of their goals didn’t come until the final three minutes of the period. With 2:57 to go, Sarkenov scored his first goal in his first game back in the lineup. After missing action since November 14th while representing Kazakhstan on the national stage, Sarkenov picked up his second point of the night. Boychuk forced a turnover in the offensive zone, feeding Sarkenov in the slot. From there, he beat Rocha blocker side to score his seventh goal of the season, giving the visitors a 4-1 lead.
With 19 seconds left in the second, Rudolph found the back of the net for the second time in the contest. After a one timer by Hubert Clarke was stopped by Rocha, Brandon Gorzynski grabbed the rebound and sent it back to Clarke at the blue line. Clarke then swung it across to Rudolph, who danced his way in down the right circle. With Dube setting the screen in front, Rudolph sniped a shot shortside to make it a 5-1 lead. His goal now tied him with Gorzynski for the team lead at 16.
The Raiders added two more goals in the third period, as Maddix McCagherty scored at the 6:33 mark by burying a loose puck. His 10th of the season made it 6-1, while Linden Burrett sniped a shot home from the right circle to make it 7-1 with his fourth of the season.
Fortin was sharp in his work, stopping 17 of 18 shots in the 7-1 win for Prince Albert.
On Monday night, the Raiders and Broncos will conclude their home and home set, as they’ll face off at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drops at 7pm.
In light of the devastating fire at the Salvation Army in Prince Albert, fans are asked to bring any piece of clothing, blankets, etc. to support them. The Raiders will also be donating their half of the 50/50 to the Salvation Army.
