Iginla's Late Goal Lifts Rockets To 4-3 Win Over Raiders
December 15, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
The Prince Albert Raiders were 27 seconds away from picking up at least one point on Friday night, but Tij Iginla had other ideas, scoring the game winning goal in the final minute to help the Kelowna Rockets win by a 4-3 final at the Art Hauser Centre.
The Rockets opened the scoring 10:49 into the first period, and their goal came 12 seconds after their first powerplay of the game expired. Tij Iginla found a wide-open Max Graham standing right in front of the net, and sent a pass down low. All Graham had to do was turn his stick to the net and tap home his seventh goal of the season to give Kelowna a 1-0 lead.
That was the only scoring that happened in a relatively quiet first period, as the Rockets went into the intermission leading 1-0 with the shots even at 7-7.
Oli Chenier tied things up for the Raiders 3:44 into the second period. After Brayden Dube couldn't get through on a wraparound attempt, Chenier stole the puck from a Rockets defender and wheeled to the low slot. The rookie forward took a low shot that snuck through the five hole of Jari Kykkanen. His third goal of the season made it a 1-1 game.
Kelowna responded on a powerplay with 10 minutes to go in the middle frame. Coming off the bench, Andrew Cristall fed a pass to Iginla, who then fed it on to Marcus Pacheco. Pacheco waited for his chance and snuck a shot low past Hildebrand. His second goal of the year gave the Rockets a 2-1 lead.
The Raiders responded just 3:58 later on a powerplay of their own, as Justice Christensen sruck from the blue line. Chasing a puck along the half wall, Christensen gathered it and walked the line. Reaching the middle of the point, the defenceman fired a high shot on goal that beat Kykkanen for his seventh goal of the season. After exchanging quick goals, the teams found themselves back in a deadlock with a 2-2 score after 40 minutes.
Kelowna once again took the lead, this time at the 4:42 mark of the third period, as Ethan Neutens scored his fifth goal of the season to make it a 3-2 game.
A total of eight penalties were called at the 12:30 mark of the third period, following a major kneeing penalty assessed to Kayden Sadhra-Kang on Ryder Ritchie in the neutral zone. Three 10-minute misconducts were a part of the calls. Justice Christensen and Max Graham dropped the gloves, resulting in five-minute majors as well. After all of the penalties were sorted out, the Raiders would end up with three minutes of powerplay time, but that was quickly erased after a costly too many men penalty called against the green and gold.
The Raiders did find life with 2:41 left in regulation, as Krzysztof Macias scored the game tying goal after a scramble in front of the net. Macias jumped on a rebound and buried his 13th goal of the season, making it a 3-3 deadlock in the late stages of the third period.
However, with 27.7 seconds left on the clock, the Rockets snuffed out any chance of a comeback that the Raiders had brewing, as Tij Iginla scored the dagger to put the game away. The late goal gave Kelowna a 4-3 lead, and they would hang on to that lead the rest of the way to come out with a victory.
With the loss, Prince Albert falls to 17-15-0-2 on the season. The club is back in action on December 27th on the road to take on the Saskatoon Blades.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2023
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