Raiders Take Game 1 With Win Over Warriors
Prince Albert, SK – The Prince Albert Raiders opened the 2018 WHL Playoffs on the right foot with a 5-3 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night at Mosaic Place.
The Raiders now hold the early 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven opening round series.
After a tentative start to the game from both sides, Jordy Stallard got the first goal of the series. His shot from the wing squeaked through Brody Willms, just crossing the goal line.
Scores! @jstallard27‘s shot squeaks through Brody Willms!
1-0 us! pic.twitter.com/Wd2G5Ei6cG
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) March 24, 2018
Late in the period, Stallard tallied his second of the game. Stationed on the doorstep, the Winnipeg Jets prospect had two cracks at a rebound and make to mistake to give his side the 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Scores! @jstallard27 again! He gets a couple of whacks at the top of the crease!
2-0 us! pic.twitter.com/TZQukoGoyb
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) March 24, 2018
At the 5:53 mark of the second, the Warriors cut the lead in half. Vince Loschiavo buried a cross-ice pass from Brayden Burke to make it a 2-1 game.
Cole Fonstad restored the Raiders’ two-goal lead less than two minutes later. The Estevan product cut into the centre of the zone and wired a shot past Willms for his first career WHL Playoff goal.
And here’s how he did it!#WHLPlayoffs #MJvsPA pic.twitter.com/3OPGV3lp93
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) March 24, 2018
Late in the period, Fonstad’s second was a beauty. He entered the Warriors’ zone, cut inside-out around Josh Brook and snapped another shot past Willms. That goal gave the Raiders a 4-1 advantage heading into the third.
Scores! @fonstad_24 again! What a goal!
4-1 us! 3:24 left in the second!#WHLPlayoffs #MJvsPA pic.twitter.com/MN2s2v6fZ5
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) March 24, 2018
The Raiders extended their lead at the 6:35 mark of the third. On a two-on-one rush, Regan Nagy kept and beat Willms to put the Raiders ahead 5-1. That goal ended Willms night. The Warriors’ netminder made 17 saves in the loss.
Scores! @ReganNagy keeps on a two-on-one rush!
5-1 us! 13:25 to play in the third.#WHLPlayoffs #MJvsPA pic.twitter.com/TP2gwtJiD7
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) March 24, 2018
Late in the third, Tristyn DeRoose and Kale Clague added goals for Moose Jaw to bring them back within two, but it was as close as they came.
Ian Scott was strong between the pipes for the Raiders en route to his first career WHL Playoff win. The Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick made 35 stops for the victory.
The series resumes on Saturday night for Game 2 at Mosaic Place. Game time is 7 p.m.
The series shifts to Prince Albert on Tuesday and Wednesday night for Games 3 and 4, respectively. Puck drop for both games is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Raider Office, raiderhockey.com, or by calling 306-764-5348 during office hours.
