Sports stats



WHL Prince Albert Raiders

Cobra Chickens Beat Blades 5-4 in a Shootout in Spectacular Comeback Fashion

January 26, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release


Trailing 4-2 in the third period, the Prince Albert Cobra Chickens tied the game late, and would go on to beat the Saskatoon Blades 5-4 in a shootout on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre. Turner McMillen tied the game with 41 seconds left in regulation, and Krzysztof Macias would score the shootout winner, as Prince Albert snapped a five game slide.

"It was no easy task," head coach Jeff Truitt said. "It was a bit of an emotional game. We were up 2-1, then down 4-2, and then we come back to make it 4-4. I have to give our guys a lot of credit here tonight for coming back the way that they did."

The Cobra Chickens wasted no time introducing themselves to the Blades, scoring 2:41 into the game on their first powerplay. From the right wall, Turner McMillen sent a pass all the way down to the left corner for Brayden Dube. Taking a couple of steps towards the net, Dube fed an open Oli Chenier in front of the net. Chenier deflected a shot on goal that beat Evan Gardner five hole. On his 17th birthday, Chenier scored his ninth goal of the season to give Prince Albert a 1-0 lead.

"It was good. We were trying to break a losing streak, so to get an early one against an opponent like these guys is always good, especially to get the crowd involved," Chenier said.

Saskatoon responded with a goal on their first powerplay of the game as well, tying things up with 8:04 left in the first. After moving the puck around in the Raider end, Tyler Parr snuck a shot past Max Hildebrand. He took a pass from Fraser Minten and jammed the puck home. It looked like Hildebrand had made the save, but the puck just trickled through for Parr's ninth goal of the season, tying things up at 1-1.

Sloan Stanick gave Prince Albert the lead back shortly after their powerplay expired. Matej Kubiesa fed a rink wide pass to the Cobra Chicken overager, and Stanick did the rest of the work. Circling around from the left wall, he cut into the slot and sniped a shot off the post and in for his 20th goal of the season, which gave the Cobra Chickens a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

The Blades tied the game 4:08 into the second period, after spending much of the start of the middle frame in the attacking zone. From the point, Alexander Suzdalev fed Trevor Wong near the left circle. From there, the Blades captain fired a pass to the crease for Brandon Lisowsky. The Blades winger turned to his backhand and tipped home his 27th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2.

After Lisowsky's equalizer, the Blades took their first lead of the night with 11:17 left in the middle frame. Easton Armstrong wheeled out of the left circle and worked his way into the slot. The big body of Armstrong was able to gain a little separation from a Cobra Chicken defender, and he was able to beat Hildebrand high on the blocker side. Armstrong's 23rd goal of the season made it a 3-2 Saskatoon lead.

With 5:37 left in the second, the Blades took a 4-2 lead courtesy of Brandon Lisowsky. Tanner Molendyk sent a quick pass to the left wing for Wong, who one touched a pass to the slot for Lisowsky. From there, he was able to pound home a one timer for his 28th goal of the season, making it a two goal game late in the middle frame.

Saskatoon would take that lead into the third period, while also leading 28-11 in shots.

Aiden Oiring made it a 4-3 game 6:31 into the third period, finishing an aggressive forechecking play from the Cobra Chickens. With Niall Crocker and Justice Christensen pinching on the left wall, the two Cobra Chickens won the battle, and Christensen fed a pass to the slot for Oiring. Taking the pass in stride, Oiring snapped a shot home for his 11th goal of the season to cut the Blades lead to one goal.

The Cobra Chickens were given a powerplay with 2:09 left in the third period, and with 41 seconds left with the net empty, Turner McMillen tied the game. Stanick ripped a shot from the point that was tipped just wide by Niall Crocker, and the rebound bounced off the end board and to the left side of the crease. McMillen jumped on the puck and buried his fifth goal of the season to send the Art Hauser Centre into pandemonium, as he tied the game at 4-4. The late game tying goal sent the two sides to overtime.

"It kind of just went blurry," McMillen said about what he saw on the ice after scoring the tying goal. "It was loud, I don't really remember much of it. I love it here. I love the city, it was one of my favourite rinks playing here as a Minto, and I can definitely say that again. The fans are amazing."

"It was unreal," Truitt said about his team's play in the third period. "Coming off the second period where we got dominated, and then to come back in the third period and chip away and tie it up, it's a feat for sure. We don't give up. We got inside and got some good looks and controlled the puck. That's a big thing against a team that can fly and make great plays. I thought that we answered the bell."

Prince Albert was forced to kill off a penalty in overtime, which they were able to do, despite it feeling like the longest two minutes of the game. The Blades outshot the Cobra Chickens 6-0 in overtime, but thanks to some monster saves from Hildebrand, the game would head to a shootout.

After things went scoreless in the first round, both Sloan Stanick and Egor Sidorov scored for their side in the second round. Krzysztof Macias stepped up to the plate for Prince Albert in the third round and beat Gardner to put Prince Albert up, with the game lying in the hands of Hildebrand to shut the door. Brandon Lisowsky tried to answer for the Blades, but Hildebrand came up with a save to win the game for Prince Albert.

"(Hildebrand) has been there for us and he's a competitor. He never gives up on anything. That's just what he's all about. He's really been coming through clutch when we've needed him."

"It's huge," Chenier added. "It just shows that we can compete with anyone. We go in with the right mentality every night, and we're going to start winning games now. It was just a matter of time, and now we're ready to go."

The Cobra Chickens snapped a five-game losing streak to improve to 20-22-1-3 on the season. The two teams are back in action tomorrow night in Saskatoon to wrap up a home and home set. Puck drop is 7pm.

Check out the Prince Albert Raiders Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2024


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Prince Albert Raiders Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central