Raiders win game one of WHL Championship Series
The Prince Albert Raiders kicked off the WHL Championship Series with a 4-2 win over the Everett Silvertips on Friday night at Angel of the Winds Arena. A three goal second period, as well as a 39 save performance from Michal Orsulak, played large parts in the victory.
Everett snagged the first goal of the series, as their top line went to work 6:07 into the first period. After a hard forecheck, Matias Vanhanen dug the puck free behind Prince Albert’s net, looking in front for options. He passed to a wide open Carter Bear in the slot, and Bear fired a shot over Orsulak’s shoulder, scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs to make it a 1-0 game. The goal would be reviewed, but the call stood as a good goal.
The Raiders took over in the second period, scoring three straight goals to jump in front. 5:12 into the frame, Jonah Sivertson scored the game tying goal. From behind the net, Braeden Cootes sent a terrific no look feed in front to Sivertson, who dragged and fired a shot under Anders Miller’s blocker. It was Siverton’s third goal of the postseason, making it a 1-1 game.
With the powerplays starting to look a little lopsided in Everett’s favour; three Silvertips powerplays compared to zero for the Raiders, Prince Albert struck on their first man advantage of the night with 4:53 left in the second. Moving the puck around at the point, Daxon Rudolph, Max Heise, and Brock Cripps all exchanged passes. Cripps then fed Cootes in the high slot, and he let a sneaky shot go through traffic that beat Miller five hole. Cootes made it two straight games with a goal, as he put Prince Albert up 2-1.
With the game at four on four in the final three minutes, Raiders captain Justice Christensen put his club up by a pair. Brayden Dube made a nice stick lift along the wall, and fed the puck across the ice to Rudolph. Quickly, Rudolph sent the puck back across to Christensen, who unleashed a Juice Bomb, ripping a one timer over Miller’s right shoulder. Christensen’s second goal of the playoffs gave Prince Albert a 3-1 lead heading into the third period.
It was a defensive third period for Prince Albert, who was outshot 13-5 in the final 20 minutes. They were able to kill off the first 17 minutes, but the Silvertips got back on the board with 2:09 left. On the powerplay, Julius Miettinen barreled his way down the right wing into the offensive zone. From the right circle, he beat Orsulak with a backhand shot on the blocker side, making it a 3-2 game.
With the pressure now on Everett to try and tie things up with the net empty, the Raiders forced a turnover in the high slot. Aiden Oiring shot the puck the length of the ice, burying an empty net goal for his eighth marker of the postseason to make it 4-2. That’s how the score would stay after the final buzzer, as the Raiders skated away with a 1-0 series lead.
Game two of the WHL Championship Series is Saturday night in Everett. Puck drops at 7pm Sask time.
