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WHL Prince Albert Raiders

Portland Scores Late Game Winner to Sneak Past Raiders 5-3

January 10, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release


The Prince Albert Raiders gave the Portland Winterhawks all they could handle on Tuesday night, but it wasn't quite enough, as the second-place team in the Western Conference took a 5-3 win out of the Art Hauser Centre on Friday night.

The Winterhawks had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the first period, as they were given a five-minute powerplay after Hayden Pakkala was assessed five and a game for charging at the 8:20 mark. Portland was in the attacking zone for the majority of their man advantage, with glorious chances to find the back of the net. They were foiled however, as Tikhon Chaika made most of his 17 first period saves on the Raiders' only penalty kill of the opening frame. Multiple saves were made with Chaika sliding across the crease, including a couple of diving desperation saves to keep the game scoreless.

As Grady Martin, who served the five-minute major, came out of the box as the penalty expired, the Raider faithful in the stands cheered to support the team. After that, Prince Albert had a few chances of their own to take the lead. Multiple odd man rushed were generated, with the best chance coming on a Keaton Sorensen one timer that was stopped by Hawks netminder Jan Spunar.

After all was said and done through 20 minutes, both teams went to the dressing room scoreless, with the shots reading 17-8 in favour of Portland.

The goals started to come in the second period, with each team scoring twice. It took just 17 seconds into the middle frame for the Winterhawks to break the ice, as Josh Zakreski finally beat Chaika. Right from the slot, he took a pass from Gabe Klassen and sniped a shot blocker side past the Raider netminder to make it 1-0.

Just over five minutes later, Klassen scored a goal of his own on a four on three Portland powerplay. A nice series of passing led to James Stefan throwing a pass in front to the Hawks captain. Klassen did the rest from there, banging home his 21st goal of the season into an open cage to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

From there, the Raiders clawed back into it. At the 9:32 mark of the middle frame, Ryder Ritchie got the Raiders on the board. Walking into the attacking zone, Ritchie sniped a shot that fooled Spunar for his 11th goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game.

A little over two minutes later, more young Raiders got on the scoresheet as the green and gold tied things up. Grady Martin sent a pass to the right point for Seth Tansem, and the rookie defenceman fired a shot on goal. Waiting in front was Cole Peardon, who tipped a shot home past Spunar to make it a tie game. In a span of 2:18, all four of Prince Albert's 16-year-old rookies registered a point with either a goal or an assist.

With 40 minutes in the books, both sides went into the third period exactly how they started the second, tied. This time by a 2-2 score.

Portland regained the lead 4:15 into the third period as Kyle Chyzowski scored to make it a 3-2 game. However, at the 11:16 mark of the third, Carter Anderson was finally rewarded for his work in the game. After hitting a cross bar and creating chances in the first and second, Anderson finally buried his seventh goal of the season, once again tying the game at 3-3.

Despite coming close to sending the game to overtime, and even scorning the winner, the Raiders surrendered the game winning goal with 2:02 left in regulation. It was leading scorer Robbie Fromm-Delorme who snapped a shot home past Chaika, giving the Winterhawks a late 4-3 lead. From there, Portland was able to shut things down, as James Stefan added an empty netter with one second on the clock to make it a 5-3 final.

The Raiders (14-22-3-0) will wrap up their five game homestand on Friday night with a game against the Seattle Thunderbirds, in former captain Nolan Allan's return to Prince Albert. Puck drop is 7pm.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2023


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