Four-Goal Second Period Paces Raiders to Win in Moose Jaw
March 4, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Moose Jaw, Sask. - The Prince Albert Raiders (20-28-2-1) scored four goals in the second period en route to a 5-3 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors (30-19-3-2) at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw on Friday night.
Reece Vitelli recorded his 19th and 20th goals of the season in the win, becoming the first Raider to reach 20 goals this season. Ozzy Wiesblatt had a goal and two helpers in the win. Nolan Allan also chipped in a pair of assists.
Carson Latimer and Hayden Pakkala also found the back of the net for the Raiders.
Moose Jaw opened the scoring 1:36 into the contest. Riley Niven's shot from the left wing hit a Raider defender's skate, sending it over Tikhon Chaika's glove to make it 1-0.
Calder Anderson added a second goal in the opening frame for the Warriors at the 9:29 mark. Lucas Brenton pinched to bottom of the faceoff circle and sent a pass across the zone. It found Anderson at the right faceoff circle and he fired a shot past Chaika.
Latimer cut Moose Jaw's lead in half with 6:30 to play in the first. Nolan Allan set up Keaton Sorensen with a one-timer at the top of the zone. Sorensen blasted a shot on goal that was stopped by Jackson Unger. The puck trickled to the left of the goaltender and Latimer was able to chip the rebound in for his 13th goal of the season, making it a 2-1 game at the first intermission.
The Raiders tied it up 4:37 into the second period with a power-play marker. Wiesblatt kept possession at the halfboards and set up Vitelli at the top of the right faceoff circle as he was being checked to the ice. Vitelli's slap shot beat Unger, giving the Raiders captain a share of the team lead in goals with 19 on the year.
Wiesblatt gave the Raiders the lead at the 7:56 mark. The San Jose Sharks prospect collected an errant Warriors pass at their blueline. He was able to skate into the slot and fired a shot past Unger to collect his 10th goal of the year, giving the Raiders a 3-2 advantage.
Late in the frame, the Raiders extended their lead. After both teams traded big hits, Pakkala was sent into the Warriors zone by Landon Kosior. Pakkala let a shot go from the left faceoff circle that beat Unger on the blocker side for his seventh of the year, putting the Raiders ahead 4-2 after 40 minutes.
Moose Jaw got back within one at the 4:03 mark of the third. Eric Alarie received a pass with space in the slot and snapped it past Chaika to make it a 4-3 game.
Chaika was strong between the pipes for the rest of the third. His best stop came on a shorthanded two-on-one rush by the Warriors. He slid over to deny Robert Baco of a goal and keep the Raiders in the lead.
Vitelli added his second of the game into the empty net. He started the rush behind his own goal, flipping the puck out of the zone. It hopped over the stick of a Warrior at the blueline, sending the Raiders captain away on a two-on-one rush with Wiesblatt. The Sharks prospect fed Vitelli who found the centre of the empty cage, wrapping up the scoring at 5-3.
Chaika finished the game with 23 saves to earn his 14th win of the season. Unger made 20 saves at the other end for the Warriors.
The Raiders are back at home on Saturday night when the Winnipeg ICE visit the Art Hauser Centre. Game time is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at SaskTix.ca or at the Raiders Box Office at the Art Hauser Centre beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2022
- Rebels Hold on to Edge Pats - Regina Pats
- Four-Goal Second Period Paces Raiders to Win in Moose Jaw - Prince Albert Raiders
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