Raiders Extend Win Streak to Four Games with 4-1 Win in Vancouver
February 2, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
For the first time since Game 5 of the WHL Final in 2019, the Prince Albert Raiders rolled into Vancouver for a date with the Giants. The green and gold kept on rolling on Wednesday night, winning their fourth consecutive game by a 4-1 final.
For the first time on the road trip, the Raiders opened the scoring first, and it was a hometown kid breaking the ice in Vancouver. At the 6:45 mark, Niall Crocker finished off a set play to put the green and gold up 1-0. After a faceoff win in the attacking zone, the puck came to Landon Kosior at the point. He fed a pass to Eric Johnston at the top of the point, and he fired a one timer on goal. In front, Crocker was in position to tip a shot past Jesper Vikman. Crocker, a Delta, B.C. product, picked up his eighth goal of the season, much to the delight of the hundreds of friends and family in attendance watching him play. The goal gave Prince Albert a 1-0 lead early in the first period.
After that, the Raiders were called for back to back penalties, forcing the team to kill off a long 5 on 3 midway through the opening frame. The team was able to do just that, thanks in part to some big saves by Max Hildebrand.
All in all, the Raiders were called for five minor penalties in the first period. One of those was assessed to Keaton Sorensen, who nearly gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead when he came out of the penalty box. Given a pass out of the box, Sorensen won a foot race over a Giants defender to the puck. From there, the overage forward made a deke around the defenceman, before cutting in front of the goal. Faking a forehand shot and taking it to his backhand, Sorensen was robbed in close by Vikman, keeping it a 1-0 game.
At the 12:49 mark of the first, the Giants finally got on the board, but it was an even strength goal that brought them back on even terms, despite the number of penalties called. Skyler Bruce finished a scoring chance, burying a rebound shot in close past Hildebrand to even the score at 1-1.
The Raiders were outshot 17-11 in the opening 20 minutes, but the game was deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the second period.
The gloves came off early in the second period, as Grady Martin got into it with Tyler Thorpe of the Giants. The fight didn't last very long however, as Martin dropped his counterpart with one punch. Thorpe went to the Giants dressing room to get his face checked out after taking that heavy blow from the Raider rookie, but both players were given four minutes each for roughing, instead of five minutes for fighting.
At the 6:14 mark of the second period, the Raiders cashed in on the powerplay. After Ryder Ritchie threw a puck on goal, a scrum ensued around the crease. Niall Crocker and Keaton Sorensen were among the bodies fighting for the puck. It was Sorensen who was able to track it, and poke a shot past Vikman from in tight. His 17th goal of the season gave the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Leading 29-20 in shots after 40 minutes, the Raiders took their one goal lead into the third period.
In the final frame, Landon Kosior gave the Raiders some insurance just 5:32 into the period. After Aiden Oiring dropped a pass for Sloan Stanick in the neutral zone, Stanick worked his way into the offensive zone. Spinning and firing a perfect pass across for Kosior, the defenceman was able to deliver a perfect shot on goal, beating Vikman to make it a 3-1 game.
Late in the third with Vikman on the bench and the extra attacker our for Vancouver, Evan Herman scored into an empty net with 1:21 left in regulation to make it a 4-1 game. The celebration came with a bit of laughter, as Herman had missed an empty net shot just moments prior.
Prince Albert was able to shut things down from there, as they picked up their fourth straight win, and continued to roll through B.C., winning all three games played thus far.
Prince Albert improved to 19-25-3-0 on the season, and are eight points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They didn't get any help in Calgary on Wednesday night unfortunately, as the Regina Pats defeated the Hitmen 6-5 in a shootout. However, the Tri-City Americans defeated the Swift Current Broncos, who currently hold the eighth seed.
The Raiders will be faced with a tough test on Friday as they roll into Kamloops to take on the B.C. Division leading Blazers. Puck drop is 9pm Sask time.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2023
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- Introducing the Spokane Chiefs 2023 WinterBrewBash - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Hit the Road for Three Contests against BC Division Opponents - Victoria Royals
- Americans Open Busy Weekend by Hosting Winterhawks - Tri-City Americans
- Rockets To Host Giants And Raiders - Kelowna Rockets
- Winterhawks Alumnus Gricius Named Canada West WHL Grad of the Month - Portland Winterhawks
- Pats Tie It in Dying Minute of Third, Edge Hitmen 6-5 in a Shootout - Regina Pats
- Broncos Lose Penalty-Filled Affair to Americans - Swift Current Broncos
- Pats Tie It in Dying Minute of Third, Edge Hitmen 6-5 in a Shootout - Regina Pats
- Hitmen Fall to Pats in Shootout - Calgary Hitmen
- Hawks Stymied in Kamloops - Portland Winterhawks
- Giants Drop 2019 Finals Matchup 4-1 - Vancouver Giants
- Warriors Open Road Trip with Loss in Lethbridge on Wednesday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blades Valiant Effort Not Enough to Get Past ICE - Saskatoon Blades
- Raiders Extend Win Streak to Four Games with 4-1 Win in Vancouver - Prince Albert Raiders
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