Raiders Pick Up Massive Two Points In 5-1 Win Over Regina
March 21, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
The Prince Albert Raiders snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday night, as they beat the Regina Pats by a 5-1 final at the Art Hauser Centre. Aiden Oiring scored twice, while Max Hildebrand stopped 25 shots in the win.
The only downside about Wednesday night is that the Calgary Hitmen picked up a point in an overtime loss to the Saskatoon Blades, meaning the Raiders will have to wait until the weekend before they can clinch a playoff spot. See the end of this article for the playoff scenario.
The Raiders stormed out of the gates, jumping ahead to a 4-0 lead after the first period, with four different players finding the back of the net. Justice Christensen opened the scoring 5:21 into the game, letting a bomb go from 30 feet out. After Aiden Oiring was robbed by Kelton Pyne in tight, the puck was eventually thrown in front of the net by Regina. Skating into the puck was Christensen, ripping a clapper from the top of the circle. The defenceman picked up his 13th goal of the season to give Prince Albert an early 1-0 lead.
Brayden Dube doubled the lead on a Raider powerplay with 8:16 left in the first. From the point, it was Ryder Ritchie who found a seam to Dube in the slot, feeding him a hard pass. Dube opened his bladed and redirected home his 17th goal of the season into the top corner.
After Ritchie picked up an assist on Dube's goal, he scored a goal to make it 3-0. Turner McMillen fed a blind pass from the wall into the slot for Ritchie, who took it on his backhand. Spinning around, the winger fired a shot that Pyne could barely react to, as it went far side over his blocker. Ritchie's 19th goal of the campaign put the Raiders up by three, and they weren't done there.
With 1:04 left in the opening frame, Aiden Oiring joined in one the fun, scoring Prince Albert's second powerplay goal of the period. After Krzysztof Macias fired a shot wide, the puck bounced back in front on the other side of the net, where Oiring was parked. From near the goal line, Oiring fired a sharp angle shot home, scoring his 19th of the season to give the Raiders a commanding 4-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Only one goal was scored in the second period, but it was Oiring scoring his second goal of the night to pad the Raiders' lead even further. Prince Albert cashed in on a five on three powerplay, on a patient display of passing around the offensive zone. The puck came to Christensen at the point, who swung it to the left corner for Ritchie. Waiting for a lane to open, Ritchie found Oiring back door and fed a hard pass across the ice. Oiring banged home his 20th of the season into an open cage, making it a 5-0 game.
Prince Albert would take that lead into the third period, while also leading 25-16 in shots.
Regina scored with 5:07 left in the third, as Tanner Howe sniped a shot top corner past Max Hildebrand on a Pats powerplay to make it a 5-1 game. That was the only blemish on Hildebrand's stat line, as the Raiders cruised to a 5-1 win on home ice.
PLAYOFF UPDATE:
Here is the playoff scenario for the Raiders entering this weekend's action:
The only way the Raiders would not clinch a playoff spot is if they lose both games against SAS in regulation, and Calgary wins both of their games against SC. If that happens, a tie breaker game for the final playoff spot would be held between the Raiders and Hitmen, with the winner of the sudden death game moving on to the playoffs. The Raiders would host the tie breaker game, as they would finish the season with more wins.
If any other scenario happens this weekend, the Raiders will clinch a playoff spot.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2024
- Warriors Fall in Brandon on Thursday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Nearing Sellout for Final Game of the Regular Season, Playoff Tickets on Sale Monday - Saskatoon Blades
- Winterhawks James Stefan Signs NHL Contract with Edmonton Oilers - Portland Winterhawks
- Fortin's Positive Outlook Paying Dividends Down the Stretch - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Wild Junior "A" Alumnus Bavaro Earns Pro Chance with Bruins - Wenatchee Wild
- Rockets Announce Team Award Winners - Kelowna Rockets
- Americans Alum Tomas Suchanek Signs with Anaheim Ducks - Tri-City Americans
- Broncos Announce 2023/2024 Team Awards - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors Travel to Brandon for Final Regular Season Road Game - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blades Edge Hitmen in Overtime - Calgary Hitmen
- Lisowsky's Overtime Heroics Come Through Again As Blades Take Out Hitmen - Saskatoon Blades
- Broncos Clinch Central Division Crown With Win Over Rebels - Swift Current Broncos
- Raiders Pick Up Massive Two Points In 5-1 Win Over Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- Tigers Host Rebels in Round One of the 2024 WHL Playoffs. - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rebels to Open Playoffs Versus Medicine Hat - Red Deer Rebels
- Four-Goal Second Period Sends Victoria Past Wenatchee Wednesday, 7-3 - Wenatchee Wild
- Howe Scores Team Leading 28th in 5-1 Loss in Prince Albert - Regina Pats
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