Americans Hold off Raiders 5-4 in an Entertaining Matchup
November 11, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
For the second straight season, 5-4 was the final between the Prince Albert Raiders and Tri-City Americans. This year, however, it was Tri-City that came away with the one goal victory. The Americans took a 4-1 lead out of the first period, and survived a late onslaught from the Raiders to send their fans home happy, and hand the Raiders their first loss in the US Division.
The Americans stormed out of the gates in the first period, as they took a commanding 4-1 lead after 20 minutes. Tri-City opened the scoring just 1:23 into the game, as Jordan Gavin scored his seventh goal of the season to make it a 1-0 game.
Andrew Fan struck at the 7:19 mark of the second period, as he capitalized off a Raiders turnover. Fan collected the puck and faked a shot from in tight, before slipping a backhand shot past Chase Coward to give the Americans a 2-0 lead.
After being denied on a breakaway earlier in the game, Brayden Dube scored on his second breakaway of the night. With a clean lane to the net, Dube fired a shot glove side past Kyle Kelsey to put the Raiders on the board with his eighth goal of the season.
Thomas Tien responded for Tri-City, restoring their two goal lead with 2:53 left in the first. Lucas Dragisevic followed up with 1:30 left on the clock on an Americans powerplay to give Tri-City a 4-1 lead in the late stages of the first.
Outshooting Prince Albert 12-9 in the opening frame, Tri-City took their 4-1 lead into the second period. After giving up four goals on 12 shots, Chase Coward was replaced in goal by Max Hildebrand to start the second period.
It was a better start to the second period for the Raiders, as Krzysztof Macias scored just 2:15 into the middle frame to cut the deficit to two goals. From the slot, Macias spun and fired a backhand shot that beat Kelsey low, and his ninth goal of the season made it a 4-2 game. The Raiders were put on the powerplay shortly after, which they failed to score on, but it was a good momentum start to the period.
Tri-City answered back at the 8:22 mark of the second period, as a weird goal found its way past Max Hildebrand. Drew Freer took a shot that took a bounce off a player in front of the net, bouncing up over Hildebrand and into the back of the net. Freer's second goal of the season made it a 5-2 game.
Prince Albert scored a powerplay goal late in the second period, and it took them just 12 seconds of powerplay time to find the back of the net. After a faceoff win, Aiden Oiring set up shop in the slot, and he got a pass from Sloan Stanick. Oiring wired a one timer clean past Kelsey on the far glove side, and scored his eighth goal of the season to make it a 5-3 game.
It was a much better period for the Raiders, as it was a close 5-3 game heading into the final regulation frame.
Justice Christensen made it a one goal game 6:04 into the second period on another Raider powerplay. Niall Crocker sent a pass to the defenceman at the point, and Christensen let a bullet go that beat Kelsey for his third goal of the season. The goal gave the Raiders more life, as it became a 5-4 game early in the final frame.
With 10:30 left in the third period, Thomas Tien gave Sloan Stanick a rough ride into the boards. Tien was called for a five minute major for boarding, which set the Raiders up for a five minute powerplay. There was not a single whistle during the powerplay, as the Raiders put puck after puck on net, but the Americans were able to clear on each scoring chance. The Americans were able to break down the ice with a couple of odd man rushed on the penalty kill, but couldn't score shorthanded. The major penalty ended, and it remained a one goal Tri-City lead.
Prince Albert was not able to find the back of the net for the remainder of regulation, as the Americans held on for a 5-4 win on home ice.
The Raiders (11-9-0-1) will have a couple days off before taking on the Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday night.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 11, 2023
- Friesen Scores Again, But Wild Fall 4-1 at Medicine Hat Saturday - Wenatchee Wild
- Sell-Out Home Crowd Drives Spokane Chiefs to Resounding 6-3 Victory Over Kamloops - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Hold off Raiders 5-4 in an Entertaining Matchup - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen Take Down Oil Kings, 10-2 - Calgary Hitmen
- POWER KILL Tips Net 3 Shorthanded in 6-2 Win Over Vancouver - Everett Silvertips
- Tigers Win 4th Straight in 4-1 Victory Over Wild - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Roughed Up By Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Saturday's Game vs Kamloops Officially Sold Out - Spokane Chiefs
- Wheat Kings Explode Offensively in Win over Regina - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pats Great Start Not Enough in 7-5 Loss to Wheat Kings - Regina Pats
- Wild Announce Assignment of Savoie to Wenatchee by NHL's Buffalo Sabres - Wenatchee Wild
- Preview: Oil Kings vs. Calgary Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Chiefs Host Blazers Saturday for First School Night of 2023-24 - Spokane Chiefs
- Game Day Preview: Game 20 vs Wenatchee - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Cougars Come from Behind to Defeat Rebels in Shootout - Prince George Cougars
- Hawks Wrap up Roadie with 5-1 Win in Vancouver - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Taken Down by Silvertips - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Drop Tight Shootout Game to Tigers - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Oil Kings Bested by Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Wild Win Streak Snapped at Eight, Lethbridge Picks up 5-1 Victory Friday - Wenatchee Wild
- Hemmerling Grabs Goal, Assist in 2-1 Win Over Rockets - Everett Silvertips
- Winterhawks Defeat Giants 5-1 - Vancouver Giants
- Spokane Chiefs Host Prince Albert, Fall 3-2 to Open the Weekend - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Win Chippy 3-2 Game in Spokane - Prince Albert Raiders
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