Raiders Explode Offensively In 6-2 Win Over Wheat Kings
January 7, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
The Prince Albert Raiders completed a perfect weekend on Saturday night, blowing out the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-2 at the Art Hauser Centre. It was a night full of fights, physicality, a first career goal, and a goal of the year candidate all put into one.
The Raiders and Wheat Kings traded the first two goals of the game in the first period, but it was the green and gold side that opened the scoring 2:43 into the game. The newest acquisition by the Raiders, Aiden Oiring, put the home side on top on a Raider powerplay. Skating down the right wing, Oiring took a pass from Gabe Ludwig and sniped a shot top corner over the blocker of Wheaties netminder Nicholas Jones. His first as a Raider and sixth of the season gave the Raiders an early 1-0 lead.
Brandon tied things up at the 8:37 mark of the opening frame, as captain Nate Danielson pulled them back on even terms. With space near the right circle, Danielson wired a shot far side past Max Hildebrand to tie the score at 1-1 with his 20th goal of the campaign.
After that, two fights broke out in back-to-back stoppages. First it was Sloan Stanick who dropped the gloves with Brett Hyland, as the Brandon forward took exception to a hit from Stanick. Just five seconds later, it was rookie forward Grady Martin who dropped the mitts with Matthew Henry.
Just under four minutes after the rough stuff was sorted out, the Raiders took the lead. From near the top of the right point, Justice Christensen leaned into a shot that beat traffic in front, including Jones. The goal was the first of Christensen's WHL career, and it put the Raiders on top 2-1.
With 4:55 left in the first period, captain Evan Herman added to that lead. After being denied on a breakaway earlier in the period, Herman wouldn't be denied all alone a second time. The forward made a backhand-forehand deke, before burying a shot past Jones to make it 3-1. The goal snapped a 13-game goal-less drought, as the Raiders took that 3-1 lead into the second period.
With 15:40 to go in the second period, the Wheat Kings made it a one goal game on a powerplay. Nolan Ritchie buried his 14th goal of the season to cut the Raiders lead to 3-2.
However, with 2:26 left in the middle frame, the Raiders answered back with a powerplay goal of their own. From the left circle, Sloan Stanick fired a low shot, beating Jones five hole. His 14th goal of the season was a big one, as it restored Prince Albert's two goal lead.
With 40 minutes in the books, 4-2 would be the Raider lead heading into the third period.
8:43 into the second period, Stanick scored his second of the night, and it was a play of the week candidate. Gaining speed in the offensive zone, Stanick kicked it up a gear, cutting in towards the Brandon goal. He danced around two Wheat Kings defenders, controlling the puck, before knocking it in on a horrible angle while he was off balance. The goal made the Art Hauser Centre erupt, as the Raiders took a 5-2 lead on the outstanding individual effort.
Lastly, with 2:01 left in the third, Niall Crocker delivered the final dagger, scoring his fifth goal of the season to put the Raiders up by a 6-2 score, and that's what the final would end up to be as the final buzzer sounded.
Between the pipes for Prince Albert, Max Hildebrand picked up his second straight win on home ice, stopping 18 of 20 Brandon shots. Jones stopped 21 of 27 Raider shots in the loss for Brandon.
The Raiders improve to 14-21-3-0 with the win, and are now just five points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Prince Albert is back in action on Tuesday night as they continue their homestand against the Portland Winterhawks. Puck drop is 7pm.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2023
- Chiefs Clean Up Penalty Kill, But Fall Short In 2-1 Loss To Vancouver Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- G-Men Take Down Chiefs 2-1 - Vancouver Giants
- T-Birds Bitten by Moose Jaw - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Broncos Score Five Unanswered In 6-4 Win Over Tigers - Swift Current Broncos
- Rockets Fall to Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Wrap-Up Road Swing with 6-4 Loss to Americans - Victoria Royals
- Warriors Cruise Past Thunderbirds on Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blades Return to Win Column with Dominant 6-2 vs Rebels - Saskatoon Blades
- Tigers Drop 6-4 Contest to Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Win a Thriller in Lethbridge - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Upend Silvertips with 3-1 Win in Prince George - Everett Silvertips
- Raiders Take Down Wheat Kings Saturday Night - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Raiders Explode Offensively In 6-2 Win Over Wheat Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Marek Alscher Joins Winterhawks in Winnipeg - Portland Winterhawks
- Bedard Returns to the Lineup Sunday vs. Calgary - Regina Pats
- Bedard Returns to the Lineup Sunday vs. Calgary - Regina Pats
- Pats Trade Armstrong to Winnipeg for Harmacy - Regina Pats
- Chiefs Host Vancouver Giants Saturday for Second Time this Season - Spokane Chiefs
- ICE Acquire Armstrong - Winnipeg Ice
- Game Day Preview January 7 vs Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Thunderbirds Acquire Colton Dach from the Kelowna Rockets - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets Move Dach And A Pick To T-Birds For Players And Picks - Kelowna Rockets
- Cougars Drop First Game of 2023 to Everett - Prince George Cougars
- Preview: Americans Look to Bounce Back from OT Loss - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Down Americans in Overtime - Tri-City Americans
- T-Birds Extend Winning Streak in Regina - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets Win 3-2 Over Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Win 3-2 in OT Friday Night - Vancouver Giants
- Scott, Almquist Each Score Twice As Royals Roll To 6-3 Win Over Chiefs - Victoria Royals
- May Records First WHL Victory in 3-2 Tigers' Triumph Over Oil Kings - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Struggle to Build Momentum, Lose to Victoria 6-3 - Spokane Chiefs
- Hofer Nets Two as Tips Top Cougars 4-2 - Everett Silvertips
- Warriors Fall to Calgary in Tight Game - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Wheat Kings Travel to Prince Albert Saturday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blades Earn Point in Third Straight Game - Saskatoon Blades
- Broncos Win Fifth Straight, Down Blades 5-4 in Shootout - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Drop Narrow One-Goal Game to Medicine Hat - Edmonton Oil Kings
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