Raiders start Alberta road trip with 3-1 loss in Calgary
The Prince Albert Raiders saw their offence sputter on Wednesday night in Calgary, as they fell to the Hitmen 3-1 to kick off their three game Alberta road swing.
The game finally saw its first goal at the 10:21 mark of the second period, as the Hitmen broke the ice. After they failed to convert on a two on one rush into the Raider zone, Calgary maintained possession inside the blue line. From the slot, Oliver Tulk took a knuckleball of a shot, fooling Max Hildebrand on the glove side. After more than 30 minutes of scoreless hockey, Tulk’s 29th goal of the season gave the home side a 1-0 lead.
Connor Hvidston doubled the lead for Calgary with 1:03 left in the second. After a bust in coverage by the Raiders in their own end, Brandon Gorzynski found a wide open Hvidston in the slot and fed the forward a pass. With all sorts of time to walk in, Hivdston sniped a shot over Hildebrand’s pad and under his blocker to score his 15th goal of the season to make it a 2-0 game.
Reflecting on the scoreboard, the Hitmen outshot the Raiders 17-7 in the second period, and took their two goal lead into the third.
The lead became 3-0 in favour of the Hitmen1:33 into the third period, as Tulk found the back of the net for the second time in the game. Leading a two on one rush into the offensive zone down the right wing, he was allowed by Lukas Dragicevic to work his way closer and closer to the net. After working his way in to about three feet away from Hildebrand, Tulk slid a shot five hole past the Raider netminder, giving Calgary a comfortable three goal lead.
Prince Albert got back to within one late in the third period, as Ethan Bibeau tipped home a point shot from Justice Christensen to spoil Daniel Hauser’s shutout bid, but that’s as close as they would get, as Calgary won by a 3-1 final.
It’s the first regulation loss in ten games for the Raiders, and they’ll look to get back in the win column on Friday night when they visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
