Raiders win first round series with 4-3 overtime win over Rebels
For the second straight season, the Prince Albert Raiders are off to round two. They knocked off the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 in overtime on Friday night to win their best of seven 4-1.
Brock Cripps brought the building to life 5:49 into the game, as the rookie defenceman opened the scoring. After Evan Smith poked a neutral zone faceoff to Benett Kelly, the Raiders began an offensive push. Kelly dropped a pass to Cripps in the high slot, and he let go of a hard snap shot that beat Matthew Kondro on the glove side. Cripps continued his hot postseason, picking up his third goal in five games, and his sixth point.
Red Deer tied the game up with 8:22 left in the first, as Beckett Hamilton scored for the second straight game. Kalder Varga slid a pass from the right wing to the slot for Hamilton, who snapped a shot home blocker side past Michal Orsulak.
There was a lot of hockey left to be played after 20 minutes, with the Raiders and Rebels all tied up at 1-1.
Owen Corkish made his impact on the game in the second period, putting the Raiders up 2-1 just 2:08 in. From his own end, Cripps sent a breakout pass to Corkish, who one touched the puck ahead to Evan Smith. Corkish got a return feed inside the blue line, and sniped a shot glove side past Kondro to nab his second goal of the playoffs.
With 5:34 left in the second, now playing four on four, Linden Burrett took advantage of the extra ice to score a highlight reel goal. Matyas Man delivered a thunderous hit behind the Raiders net, allowing Brayden Dube to spring Burrett up the ice. He led a two on one down the left wing, made a glorious move in front, and tucked a backhand shot past Kondro. The stunner was Burrett’s first of the playoffs, giving the Raiders some breathing room as it became 3-1.
Red Deer got one goal back 3:02 later, as Kohen Lodge found the back of the net. Taking a pass from Varga, Lodge took a shot from in tight that beat Orsulak, as he picked up his first of the playoffs. Lodge’s tally made it a 3-2 game heading into the third period, with the Rebels desperate to keep their season alive.
The Raiders outshot the Rebels 10-4 in the third period and looked like they were on their way to round two, until the final minute hit. With 46.3 seconds left, Kondro was at the bench for the extra attacker, and Nate Yellowaga tied the game. The defenceman tried sending a pass across the crease, but the puck went off Justice Christensen’s skate in the crease, rolling under Orsulak’s left pad and in. The late marker tied the game at 3-3, sending it to overtime for the first time this series.
Just 1:21 into the extra frame, Brandon Gorzynski put an end to the series, scoring the overtime and series winner. Gorzynski dropped a pass to Brayden Dube, who’s shot was stopped by Kondro. Gorzynski was first on the rebound, and he wrapped around the net and tucked home the game winning goal, giving the Raiders a 4-3 win and 4-1 series win.
The Raiders will await to see who their second round opponent will be. They will either host the Calgary Hitmen or Saskatoon Blades next weekend. The Hitmen swept the Brandon Wheat Kings, while the Blades hold a 3-2 series lead over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
