Ritchie’s late goal propels Raiders to 4-3 win over Pats
The Prince Albert Raiders hosted the Regina Pats on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre, looking to extend their pre-season winning streak to three games. Regina erased a 3-1 deficit late in the third period, but Ryder Ritchie scored the game winning goal with 37 seconds left in regulation to give the Raiders a 4-3 victory on home ice.
The Raiders struck early in the first period, as Ritchie put the home side up just 1:44 into the contest. Taking a pass from Sloan Stanick, Ritchie circled around and fired a shot from the slot, beating Ewan Huet. The quick strike was Ritchie’s second goal of the pre-season, as he gave Prince Albert a 1-0 lead.
1:04 later, Justice Christensen doubled Prince Albert’s lead. After his initial long distance shot was stopped, Christensen crashed the net and buried his own rebound. His second goal of the pre-season gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead just 5:49 into the game.
The Pats failed to score on two powerplay chances, while the Raiders couldn’t convert on their only man advantage of the first period. 2-0 would be the score in favour of Prince Albert after 20 minutes, with the shots also favouring PA by an 11-8 margin.
The Raiders jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 5:55 left in the second period, as Justice Christensen scored his second goal of the night. The Pats responded with a goal of their own 1:36 later, as Zack Stringer scored Regina’s first goal of the night. After an original shot was blocked, Stringer pounced on the rebound and scored his first goal of the pre-season to make it a 3-1 game.
With six more penalties called in the middle frame and neither team able to capitalize on their respective powerplays, Prince Albert went to the dressing room after 40 minutes holding onto their 3-1 lead.
That lead evaporated in the third period, as Regina scored twice in a span of 1:31 to tie the game. With 3:55 left in regulation, Tye Spencer struck on a Pats powerplay to make it a 3-2 game. Then 91 seconds later, Spencer buried another goal on even strength to tie the game. After controlling the action for most of the game, the Raiders were suddenly stuck in their own end, giving up a pair of goals to make it a 3-3 game.
When it seemed like overtime was going to be needed to find a winner, Ryder Ritchie changed the outcome with 37 seconds left in regulation. Taking a lead feed from Christensen, the winger bolted down the right wing and fired a shot past Huet for his second goal of the night. In the late stages of the game, Ritchie delivered with the game winning goal, giving Prince Albert a 4-3 win.
All three of the Raiders’ pre-season wins have been decided by one goal (2-1, 4-3, 4-3). The team wraps up exhibition play tomorrow night in Warman against the Saskatoon Blades. Puck drop is 7pm.
