Second period is the difference as Raiders fall 5-4 in Swift Current
The Prince Albert Raiders dropped their second game in a row, falling by a 5-4 final on Saturday night in Swift Current. Despite having the lead after 20 monutes, the Raiders gave up four goals in the second period, and couldn’t come back to tie the game.
The Raiders got off to a hot start on Saturday night, jumping ahead to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes. Aiden Oiring had himself a period, tallying three points. He started the game off with a goal 5:04 in, capitalizing on a forced turnover in the defensive zone. He poked the puck off a Bronco stick at the blue line, and worked his way in all along on Joey Rocha. Stick handling towards the net, Oiring beat Rocha with a shot blocker side, scoring his first goal of the season to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead.
On their second powerplay of the game, Prince Albert took a 2-0 lead, as one of the newcomers scored his first as a Raider: Tomas Mrsic. Oiring gave Mrsic a pass from the Broncos blue line, and all of a sudden he found himself on a partial breakway. Mrsic brought the puck to his backhand and roofed a shot over Rocha’s glove. His first goal and first point as a Raider doubled the lead for the visitors with 8:23 left in the first period.
Swift Current was able to answer, as an aggressive forecheck led to their first goal of the game. Connor Gabriel forced a turnover behind the Raider net, and would gain control of the puck for the Broncos. Gabriel fed a pass in front to Dawson Gerwing, who ripped a low one timer shortside past Cooper Anderson, who was making his first WHL start. The shot beat Anderson past his right pad, as the Broncos cut into the lead, making it a 2-1 game.
With 52 seconds left in the first, Prince Albert regained their two goal lead, as Tyrone Sobry scored his first goal of the season. At the left circle, the defenceman took a pass from Mrsic, and worked his way deep into the Broncos end. From near the goal line, Sobry sniped a shot top corner, picking the shortside over Rocha’s right shoulder to make it a 3-1 game.
A hot start to the contest gave the Raiders a nice two goal lead heading into the second period.
The second period was a tough one for Prince Albert, as they gave up four unanswered goals. Brady Birnie scored twice in the middle frame, while Gabriel and former Raider captain Eric Johnston all scored for the Broncos to give them a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes.
Birnie started the second period scoring summary for Swift Current 8:23 into the frame, scoring a powerplay goal. Taking a pass from Clarke Caswell, Birnie found the puck and banged home his first goal of the season near the left right post, making it a 3-2 game.
Johnston found the back of the net for the first time this season, unleashing a bomb from the point. His slapshot got through the traffic in front of the net and past Anderson who couldn’t track the puck. Johnston’s blast tied the game at 3-3 with 10:32 left in the middle frame.
The home side wasn’t done yet, as Swift Current scored two more goals 27 seconds apart to end the period. Gabriel and Birnie went back to back to cap off a four goal frame for the Broncos, as they took a 5-3 lead into the third period.
The Raiders got back to within one with 12:54 left in the third. Jonah Sivertson gave Niall Crocker a breakout pass to the right wing, and Crocker worked his way into the Swift Current zone. He fired a shot on goal that was stopped by Rocha, but crashing to the crease was Justice Christensen, who was there for the rebound. Christensen fell to the ice, but not before he was able to slide home his first goal of the season. A quick video review didn’t change the outcome of the goal call, as it became a 5-4 game.
The Raiders couldn’t find the game tying goal, however, as the Broncos were able to hold on for a 5-4 win, picking up their first victory of the season.
The Raiders (1-2-1-0) are back in action on Friday night when they host the Everett Silvertips. Puck drop is at 7pm.
