Four-Goal Second Paces Raiders To Win Over Wheaties
Published on December 7, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Brandon, MB - The Prince Albert Raiders (27-1-0-1) responded after their 19-game win streak was snapped in their last outing as they downed the Brandon Wheat Kings (14-8-3-3) 5-2 at Westoba Place on Friday night.
A four-goal second period put the game out of reach. A newly-formed line of Cole Fonstad, Noah Gregor, and Ozzy Wiesblatt each had a goal and an assist in the win.
Early in the first period, Eric Pearce got the Raiders on the board. The Regina product dragged the puck through Shael Higson and snapped a quick shot that beat Jiri Patera to put the Raiders up 1-0 at the 3:35 mark.
In the second, the Raiders' offence caught fire. Sean Montgomery scored 1:27 into the middle frame. He had a two-on-one with Brett Leason, looked off the leading scorer in the WHL and wired a shot past Patera for his 12th of the year. Leason recorded an assist on the play to extend his point streak to 29 games.
Midway through the frame, the Raiders made it a three-goal game. Off of an offensive zone faceoff on the power play, Fonstad collected the puck, skated to the slot from the sideboards and put a shot on goal that hit a body in front and got through Patera.
The Raiders scored twice in quick succession late in the period to make it a 5-0 game. First, Gregor collected pass in the shot and used his quick release to beat Patera with 1:41 to play in the period. The goal was the San Jose Sharks prospect's 99th goal of his WHL career.
Just 25 seconds later, Wiesblatt got in behind the Wheat Kings' defence and lifted a shot over Patera's glove for his sixth goal of the year.
With 13 seconds left in the frame, the Wheat Kings broke Donovan Buskey's shutout bid. Connor Gutenberg's shot got through traffic in front of the goal and between Buskey and the post to make it 5-1 after two.
Buskey withstood an early flurry to the third as the Wheat Kings pressed in the first few minutes. Late in the third, the Wheat Kings added a shorthanded goal when Ben McCartney put a shot through a screen and past Buskey to round out the scoring at 5-2.
Buskey earned his fifth win in as many appearances for the Raiders this season, making 24 saves on the evening. The Raiders put five goals past Patera on 41 shots.
The Raiders return to the Art Hauser Centre for the first time in nearly three weeks for the second half of the home-and-home with the Wheat Kings on Saturday night. Game time is 7 p.m. Tickets are still available but limited. Head to raiderhockey.com and the Raider Office to pick up tickets.
Half-season tickets are now available for a limited time. Stop by the Raider Office for more information. The packages are only available until Sunday, December 30.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2018
- Raiders Outlast Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Four-Goal Second Paces Raiders To Win Over Wheaties - Prince Albert Raiders
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- 19 WHL Players Named to Team Alberta for 2019 Canada Winter Games - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, December 7 vs. Swift Current - Calgary Hitmen
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- Game Day Preview: Pats Continue Road Trip in Red Deer Friday - Regina Pats
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Prince George - Game #29 - Portland Winterhawks
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