Hitmen Edge Raiders 3-1 in Goaltender Duel
January 5, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
The Calgary Hitmen took down the Prince Albert Raiders 3-1 on Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre, in what was a high shooting, high save affair. Ethan Buenaventura was busy between the pipes for Calgary, making 42 saves, while Tikhon Chaika also had his fair share of shots, stopping 33 shots for Prince Albert.
The Hitmen opened the scoring 9:54 into the first period when they got a fortunate bounce in front. From the point, Blake Heward fired a shot down low that hit the shinpad of Sean Tschigerl in front and bounced in past Tikhon Chaika. His 12th goal of the season was a shorthanded marker that opened the scoring, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead midway through the opening frame.
That lead became 2-0 around three minutes later, as Maxim Muranov buried a chance in front. His third goal of the season gave the Hitmen a two-goal edge after the first, as 2-0 would be the score heading into the second, with the Raiders leading 14-12 in shots.
After giving up that shorthanded goal in the second period, the Raiders got redemption on a powerplay in the second period. After a loose puck was cleared away from the Hitmen net, it came back near the point for Ryder Ritchie. The rookie gathered the puck and sniped a shot far side past Ethan Buenaventura to make it 2-1. Ritchie's ninth goal of the game put the Raiders on the board 15:25 into the middle frame, and also extended his point streak to six games.
Despite putting up 14 shots in the third period and 43 overall in the game, the Raiders couldn't bury any more pucks past Buenaventura. Meanwhile, the Hitmen delivered a dagger with 1:27 left in the third as Tomis Marinkovic scored into an empty net to make it 3-1.
It was a solid effort in goal for Tikhon Chaika in his second straight start, as the import goalie stopped 33 of 35 shots.
The Raiders fall to 11-21-3-0 with the loss, and will look to get back in the win column on Friday night with a home game against the Red Deer Rebels. Puck drop is 7pm.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2023
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