Raiders Take Down Blades 2-1 in Seven Round Shootout Thriller
January 6, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Sixty minutes, five minutes of overtime, and the normal three round shootout was not enough action between the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades. Instead, the two teams tangoed in a seven-round shootout after a 1-1 deadlock after 65 minutes of play. Max Hildebrand made the save of the night on Egor Sidorov in the penalty shot action, while Oli Chenier scored the winning goal in the seventh round, as the Raiders snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre.
"It was a grind," head coach Jeff Truitt said. "We had to battle for every inch we got, and they did too. Both teams had momentum. Our penalty kill stood tall for us tonight after last night. A lot of guys responded. A shoutout to the Peardon line with Moroz and Martin, I thought they really stood out for us tonight. Everybody contributed and that was the biggest thing, is that everyone had their own little positive effect in this game and it added up to a team win."
Both teams had two chances on the powerplay in the first half of the first period, but neither side was able to score.
The Raiders were able to find the game's first goal with 1:36 left in the first period, as Turner McMillen scored his first goal in a green and gold jersey. Stealing a pass from a Blades defender, McMillen made his way into the Saskatoon end from center ice. The overage forward cut down the left wing and sniped a shot under the glove and over the pad of Evan Gardner. The former Kelowna Rocket scored his third goal of the season after scoring twice with Kelowna. His goal gave Prince Albert a 1-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes.
The Blades tied the score 5:40 into the second period, as Charlie Wright set up Tyler Parr. Wrapping around the net, it looked like Wright was going to throw a shot on goal, but instead he fed Parr in front of the net. Max Hildebrand didn't see the pass get across as he was trying to beat Wright to his post, and Parr was able to bang home his seventh goal of the season on the doorstep. His tally made it a 1-1 game.
Both teams exchanged more chances in the middle frame, but a 1-1 deadlock would be the score heading into the third period, with the Raiders holding a 22-15 edge in shots.
Neither side was able to find the back of the net in the third period, as the game would need five more minutes of three-on-three hockey. Overtime also solved nothing, which sent the two clubs to a shootout.
In the penalty shot rounds, Max Hildebrand came up with his biggest stop of the night, denying Egor Sidorov. It looked like the Blades forward had Hildebrand beat, turning to his backhand, but a spectacular diving glove save from the Raiders netminder kept things scoreless in the shootout.
"I skated with Sidorov in the summer and I've seen a lot of his moves, and it was good to get him there," Hildebrand said.
With nobody scoring through six rounds, Oli Chenier stepped up to center ice with a chance to put the Raiders on top. Walking in, the rookie forward snapped a shot under Gardner's glove and in, giving the home side the upper hand.
Tyler Parr was the next shooter for the Blades, but he couldn't get a shot on goal as he fell and missed the net. A fired-up Hildebrand celebrated with his teammates as they came out with a 2-1 win on home ice.
"It was a good team win and something we needed after a bit of a skid there. We know that we can go head-to-head with anyone in this league. It was good to get one against those guys tonight."
"He's just a steady ship for us," Truitt said. "He's a special player because of his competitiveness and he cares to win. All of our guys are the same way, but for a guy like him he's the difference here tonight."
The Raiders are back in action on Tuesday at home against the Vancouver Giants. Puck drop is 7pm.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2024
- Rockets' Win Streak Ends - Kelowna Rockets
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