Raiders Fall to ICE in Winnipeg
January 4, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Winnipeg, MB - The Prince Albert Raiders (20-14-4-1) rallied twice from two-goal deficits, but dropped a 6-3 game to the Winnipeg ICE (24-13-1-0) on Saturday night at Wayne Fleming Arena.
After falling behind 2-0 early in the contest, the Raiders were able to tie the game late in the second period. However, the ICE responded with three third-period goals to get the win.
Ilya Usau had a two-point night in the loss with a goal and an assist. Brayden Watts and Justin Nachbaur also scored.
Winnipeg opened the scoring 57 seconds into the contest. Connor McClennon picked off a pass at the Raiders blueline and carried the puck in. He looked to shoot, but the puck rolled off his stick. He was able to get the puck back and make a pass to Owen Pederson who put the puck into the empty side of the net to make it 1-0.
Eleven seconds later, the ICE doubled their lead. Peyton Krebs drove down on the right wing and put a pass across the goal mouth. Pederson was able to kick the puck in from outside the crease and past Boston Bilous for his second goal of the night.
The goal ended Bilous' night after facing two shots in 1:08. He gave way to Keegan Karki, who was acquired by the Raiders from the Everett Silvertips late on Friday night.
Midway through the period, the Raiders thought they had got on the board. Liam Hughes stopped a shot, but put the rebound up in the air. Reece Vitelli crashed the goal and put the puck in, but did so with his hand. After a review, the no-goal call on the ice stood and the game went to the media timeout.
On the other side of the break, Ilya Usau brought the Raiders back within one. He put a pass toward the front of the net for Brayden Watts that deflected off a Winnipeg player's stick and past Liam Hughes to make it a 2-1 game. Usau got credit for his 12th goal on the play.
The Raiders ran into some penalty trouble in the middle frame. After killing off the first two, the ICE struck on their third. Isaac Johnson made a cross-zone pass to McClennon who one-timed the pass past Karki to restore Winnipeg's two-goal lead with 7:26 to play in the second.
Just 35 seconds later, the Raiders got back within one by forcing Hughes into a turnover behind his net. The Raiders worked the puck to Brayden Watts who snapped a shot that beat Hughes on the glove side for his 17th of the season, making it a 3-2 game.
The Raiders levelled the score with 3:18 to play in the second. Aliaksei Protas dug the puck out and fed Spencer Moe, who was unable to get a shot off and carried the puck around the goal. He hit Kaiden Guhle with a pass at the point and the 2020 NHL Draft prospect put a shot on goal that got through traffic. The puck deflected off of Justin Nachbaur's leg for the Cross Lake, MB product's fifth goal of the season to send the game to the intermission at 3-3.
The ICE regained their lead 3:47 into the third period. Winnipeg forced a turnover at the Raiders blueline. Jackson Leppard found Johnson after creating the turnover. Johnson snapped a shot from the slot that went off the crossbar and in to make it a 4-3 game.
Less than three minutes later, Winnipeg increased its lead to 5-3. Carson Lambos made a nice touch pass over to Johnson, who make a quick feed back over the Leppard, who was able to tap in the backdoor pass.
Leppard added another with 5:01 to play in the contest. He protected the puck from the corner, made a quick move to his forehand, and beat Karki from the slot to round out the scoring at 6-3.
Karki finished the game with 22 saves in relief of Bilous. Hughes stopped 25 Raiders' shots to earn the win.
The Raiders and ICE square off again on Sunday evening at Wayne Fleming Arena. Game time is 6 p.m. Head to The Rock And Iron Sports Bar to watch the game, or listen on 900 CKBI with Trevor Redden.
The next Raiders' home game is on Tuesday night when the Red Deer Rebels come to town. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Raiders Office and at raiderhockey.com.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2020
- Kastelic Lifts Hitmen in OT - Calgary Hitmen
- Raiders Fall to ICE in Winnipeg - Prince Albert Raiders
- Pats Edged by Swift Current in Shootout - Regina Pats
- Silvertips Acquire F Ty Kolle from Regina for Two WHL Draft Selections, Rights to Ean Somoza - Everett Silvertips
- Pats Acquire Ean Somoza and Two Draft Picks for Ty Kolle in Trade with Everett - Regina Pats
- Silvertips Acquire 4th Round Selection in 2020 from Prince Albert for G Keegan Karki - Everett Silvertips
- Game Day Hub: January 4 - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE and Raiders Battle for First in the East - Winnipeg Ice
- Game 38 vs Seattle - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, January 4 at Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Host Rematch with Broncos Saturday at the Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- Cougars Have 'Tips Number Again - Everett Silvertips
- Third Shutout for Cossa, First Goal for Kuny as Oil Kings Down Warriors, 5-0 - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Edge Everett to Continue Improved Play - Prince George Cougars
- A 45-Save Effort from Tendeck Gains the Giants a Point in Kamloops - Vancouver Giants
- Beckman Sets New Franchise Record with Goal in Ten Straight in 6-4 Loss - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Foil Rockets - Victoria Royals
- Penalties Hurt Rebels in Eventual Overtime Loss to Blades - Red Deer Rebels
- Royals down Rockets with late power-play goal - Kelowna Rockets
- Raiders Acquire Karki from Silvertips - Prince Albert Raiders
- Wouters Notches OT Winner in Red Deer for First Victory of 2020 - Saskatoon Blades
- Winterhawks Open New Decade with a Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Take Down Hitmen 5-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
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