Rebels stay alive with 4-3 game four win over Raiders
The Prince Albert Raiders couldn’t close out their first round series on Wednesday night, as they fell to the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 at Marchant Crane Centrium. The Raiders now lead the series 3-1.
The Raiders started things off on the right foot on Wednesday, scoring twice in the opening eight minutes. Brandon Gorzynski scored his first of the playoffs 4:35 into the contest, as he capitalized on a fortunate puck bounce in front. Brayden Dube tried to send a pass backdoor to Aiden Oiring, but the puck deflected out to the slot. Gorzynski was in the right spot to find it, and he unloaded a one timer past Matthew Kondro to make it a 1-0 game.
Daxon Rudolph doubled the lead just six seconds into Prince Albert’s first powerplay chance of the night. After Aiden Oiring won the faceoff in the offensive zone, Brock Cripps sent a pass across the blue line for Rudolph. Using both Oiring and Rebels defenceman Jake Missura as a screen, Rudolph ripped a wrist shot that beat Kondro clean. It was his third goal of the playoffs, and his seventh point in four games to start the postseason.
With 48 seconds left in the first, Red Deer cut into the lead, as Cameron Dillard scored his first of the playoffs. After a first shot by Dillard was deflected just wide, Red Deer was able to keep the puck inside the blue line, and Dillard got the puck back at the point. He fired another shot on goal that might have caught a piece of Matyas Man on the way through, as it beat Michal Orsulak. Dillard’s tally made it a 2-1 game heading into the second period.
Red Deer tied the game early in the second, striking 2:45 into the frame. Dillard was the Rebel who got on the board again, as his shot deflected off two Raiders on its way through, beating Orsulak on the blocker side to make it a 2-2 game.
8:15 into the second, the Raiders took their lead back thanks to Connor Howe. Ben Harvey dropped a pass for his fellow 16-year-old in the slot, and Howe wired a shot that whistled past Kondro. His first goal of the playoffs made it a 3-2 game.
After not registering a shot since Dillard’s goal earlier in the frame, the Rebels tied things up with their second shot of the period. Beckett Hamilton spun and fired a shot on goal from the high slot that Orsulak got a chunk of with his blocker, but it trickled over the goal line and in. Orsulak had a quick word with Linden Burrett after the goal, indicating either a screen or a deflection by the Raiders defenceman on the goal. Either way, Hamilton’s first playoff goal tied things up at 3-3 after 40 minutes.
Brayden Dube took a slashing penalty early in the third period, setting the Rebels up on a powerplay with a chance to take the lead. That’s exactly what they did, as Kalder Varga fired a shot home from the slot. His shot beat Orsulak over his glove, as Varga picked up his second goal of the playoffs.
Varga’s goal would stand as the game winner, as the Raiders couldn’t find a tying goal. Red Deer held on to win by a 4-3 final, forcing a game five on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre. Tickets for game five go on sale tomorrow at 9am at the Raiders box office, and 10am online.
