Raiders Late Comeback Falls Just Short in 3-2 Loss to League Leading Thunderbirds
January 13, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
The Prince Albert Raiders threw everything they had at the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre, but at the end of the night it was the CHL's top ranked team that came away with a 3-2 win.
The goals didn't start coming until the second period, after both Max Hildebrand and Thomas Milic put up goose eggs in the first frame. Kyle Crnkovic broke the ice just 2:07 into the middle frame. The former Blade followed up on his original slot shot, burying a rebound try past Hildebrand. Crnkovic's 20th goal of the season made it a 1-0 Thunderbirds lead.
The Raiders tied things up on their first powerplay opportunity of the contest, as Niall Crocker pulled off an individual effort. Grabbing a dump from Ryder Ritchie behind the net, Crocker circled around on his backhand and cut in towards the net. Right in front, Crocker roofed a backhand shot far side top corner past Milic. His sixth goal of the season knotted things up at 1-1 midway through the second period.
Evan Herman had a chance to add a goal in the second as he was sprung on a breakaway, but a low forehand shot to the blocker side was turned away by Milic. Herman was a workhorse in that second period, as he also drew a penalty on one of the league's top defenceman. Racing against Korchinski into the corner for a puck, Herman won positioning on Korchinski, forcing the defenceman to take a holding penalty. The late powerplay would carry over into the third period, as both sides were even at 1-1, with the shots reading 16-13 in favour of Seattle.
Like the second period, the T-Birds struck early again in the third to take a 2-1 lead. In his first WHL game, Brad Lambert scored his first goal in the league. Taking a pass from behind the net by Kyle Crnkovic, Lambert fired a one timer home past Hildebrand to restore Seattle's one goal lead just 1:19 into the final frame.
That lead became 3-1 at the 10:12 mark of the third when Jordan Gustafson cashed one in. After his initial shot from the right circle was stopped by Hildebrand, Gustafson hopped on his own rebound and buried a shot far side to give the visitors a two-goal lead on his 16th goal of the campaign.
With 1:39 left in regulation and the net empty, the Raiders scored to make it a game again. From the point, Justice Christensen fired a long shot with bodies upon bodies in front of the net. One of those players was Sloan Stanick, who tipped it home past Milic. Stanick's 16th goal of the season pulled the Raiders back to within one, as it became a 3-2 T-Birds lead.
Once again with the net empty, it was too little too late for Prince Albert in the dying seconds, as Seattle held on for the 3-2 win. It was another solid outing for Max Hildebrand between the pipes for the green and gold, as he stopped 31 of 34 shots in a losing effort. Milic turned aside 26 of 28 Raider shots in the win for Seattle.
Prince Albert will now head to Alberta on Saturday night for their final meeting of the season with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Puck drop is 8pm.
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