Second period provides Prince Albert’s offence in 4-3 win over Cougars
The Prince Albert Raiders got back into the win column on Saturday night, knocking off the visiting Prince George Cougars 4-3 at the Art Hauser Centre.
After a scoreless first period, both offences came to life in the second. The Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening seven minutes of the middle frame. Their first goal came after Aiden Oiring was stopped in his tracks trying to carry the puck through the slot. That was no problem, as Ben Harvey picked it up behind Oiring in the right circle. Harvey sent a hard pass to the top of the circle to Daxon Rudolph, who blasted a one timer past Josh Ravensbergen blocker side. His 25th goal of the season put Rudolph just three goals back of tying Josh Morrissey for the most goals scored by a Raiders defenceman in a single season.
Another Raiders defenceman picked up a goal in the frame, as Justice Christensen doubled their lead with 12:59 to go in the second. Just one second after a Prince Albert powerplay expired, the captain unleashed a Juice Bomb, ripping a booming slapshot from just above the right circle. Former Raider Tyrone Sobry was standing in front of Ravensbergen providing a screen for Christensen, who picked up his 14th goal of the year.
Just 24 seconds later, the Cougars got back into it, as Townes Kozicky made it a one goal game. A shot from the right circle by Kooper Gizowski hit Kozicky on the way, and the puck took a strange bounce on Michal Orsulak. The change in direction caused Orsulak to lose the puck in his pads, as it rolled through and over the goal line to make it a 2-1 game.
Jonah Sivertson and Riley Boychuk scored 12 seconds apart to put the Raiders up 4-1. After Brayden Dube lost the puck in the slot, Sivertson came swooping in from the left wing, picking it up and ripping a shot home for his 21st of the season, scoring in his second straight game.
Boychuk took a pass from Aiden Oiring in the slot, and the 17-year-old fired a shot home five hole on Ravensbergen. It was Boychuk’s 13th of the year, giving the Raiders a three goal lead, and it brought an end to Ravensbergen’s night between the pipes, as he was replaced by Alexander Levshyn.
With 6:12 to go in the second, Prince George scored for the second time in the frame, taking advantage of an odd man rush. Down the right wing Kayden Lemire fed a rink wide pass to Gizowski in the left circle, and he sniped a shot glove side over Orsulak’s right shoulder. Gizowski picked up his 29th goal of the season and his second point of the night, making it a 4-2 game after 40 minutes.
The only scoring in the third period came with 26 seconds left in regulation, as the Cougars got back to within one with a powerplay goal. With the net empty, it was a 6 on 4 man advantage, and Gizowski found the back of the net for the second time in the contest. He finished up a scoring chance in the crease, banging a shot home to make it 4-3.
Prince George would take the center ice faceoff with the goalie pulled once again, but the Raiders held them off the board, winning by a 4-3 final.
Prince Albert now has points in six straight games, and finish their BC Division schedule with a 5-0-0-1 record. The Raiders wrap up a four game homestand on Tuesday night against the Red Deer Rebels.
