Raiders return home to knock off the Hitmen 4-3
The Prince Albert Raiders debuted their new third jerseys on Friday night and ended up with a positive result, taking down the Calgary Hitmen 4-3 at the Art Hauser Centre. Ryder Ritchie and Matej Kubiesa ended goal-less droughts, while Sloan Stanick and Justice Christensen also found the back of the net.
The Raiders opened the scoring 7:01 into the game, as the first goal of the game was set up from d-man to d-man. From the low left point, Terrell Goldsmith swung a pass to the top of the zone for Justice Christensen, and the defenceman fired a one timer on goal. His shot got through the number of bodies in front of the net and past Ethan Buenaventura. Christensen’s sixth goal of the season put Prince Albert up 1-0.
Prince Albert also struck on their first and only powerplay of the first period, as they spent most of the man advantage in the Hitmen zone. Eric Johnston fed a pass to Matej Kubiesa in the left circle, and the import winger blasted a one timer five hole past Buenaventura. After a 13 game goal-less drought, Kubiesa’s fifth goal of the season gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead with 9:41 left in the first.
The two goals, combined with Max Hildebrand’s 16 first period saves gave Prince Albert a 2-0 lead heading into the middle frame.
The Hitmen got on the board with 3:06 left in the second period, just seconds after a Raider powerplay expired. Sean Tschigerl was sprung on a breakaway, fending off a chasing Eric Johnston. Tschigerl cut right down the middle of the ice and tucked a shot five hole through Hildebrand. His 13th goal of the season brought the Hitmen to within one, as it became a 2-1 game.
Just seven seconds later, Sloan Stanick scored to give the Raiders their two goal lead right back. Right off the faceoff, Stanick collected the puck in the neutral zone and broke into the Hitmen zone down the left wing. The forward cut in to the middle of the ice and lifted a backhand shot over Buenaventura for his 11th goal of the campaign. Two quick goals, one from each side late in the middle frame made it a 3-1 lead for Prince Albert heading into the third period.
Ryder Ritchie got the monkey off his back with a clutch powerplay goal in the third period. After going eight games without finding the back of the net, the winger picked the bottom corner from the left circle. His 13th goal of the season gave the Raiders a 4-1 lead just 6:34 into the final regulation frame.
Calgary responded just 24 seconds later, however, as they came back to within two goals. It was Fraser Leonard who found the back of the net for the Hitmen, as he scored his first goal of the season to make it a 4-2 game.
With 8:56 left in the third period, Hitmen captain Tyson Galloway was handed a five minute major and a game misconduct for a check from behind to Cole Peardon. The Raider forward was on the ice for a couple of minutes eventually skated off the ice under his own power. The play set the Raiders up on a five minute powerplay in the latter stages of the game.
Being shorthanded didn’t seem to bother Calgary, who needed anything they could get to come back in the game while down a man. Just 39 seconds into the penalty kill, Oliver Tulk scored a shorthanded marker for his 18th goal of the season. After trailing 4-1 early in the third, the Hitmen made things interesting again, as it became a 4-3 Raider lead.
The Raiders bent but didn’t break, as they were able to hold Calgary off the score sheet the rest of the way. Hildebrand was solid in net as he has been for much of the season, as he stopped 36 of 39 shots in the win for Prince Albert.
The green and gold (16-13-0-2) are back in action tomorrow night against the Red Deer Rebels. It’s teddy bear toss night at the Art Hauser Centre, so make sure to bring teddy bears, toques, mitts, etc. to throw onto the ice when the Raiders score their first goal of the game. Puck drop is 7pm.
