Special Teams Spark Raiders to Win in Brandon
February 22, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Brandon, MB - The Prince Albert Raiders (32-16-5-4) picked up two power-play goals and were perfect on the penalty kill as they knocked off the Brandon Wheat Kings (31-21-3-2) 2-1 at Westoba Place on Saturday night.
Ozzy Wiesblatt had a goal and an assist for the Raiders in the win. Aliaksei Protas also registered a pair of assists. Ilya Usau tallied the Raiders' other goal.
Both of the Raiders' goals came on power plays, finishing the game two-for-five with the man advantage. The Raiders killed off all five of their penalties as well.
Saturday's win extended the Raiders' winning streak to four games.
The teams battled to a scoreless opening period. Brayden Watts had the Raiders' best chance of the period with a one-timer from the bottom of the left faceoff circle that was turned aside by Jiri Patera.
The Raiders got on the board 1:58 into the second period. After Ben McCartney took a double minor for slew-footing at the end of the first, Dom Schmiemann was whistled for tripping. Usau took advantage of the five-on-three after Wiesblatt was stopped by Patera. Usau was at the top of the crease and banged in the rebound for his 21st of the season to give the Raiders a 1-0 advantage.
Just after the Raiders killed off a Wheat Kings' two-man advantage, they doubled their lead on another power play. Watts started a passing play by dropping a pass for Protas. He whipped the puck across the zone to Wiesblatt who blasted a one-timer past a sliding Patera for his 22nd of the season, putting the Raiders up 2-0.
Brandon thought they got on the board late in the second period on a power play of their own. McCartney got the puck past Max Paddock, but the Wheat Kings forward batted the puck into the net with his glove. The goal was waved off on the ice.
The Wheat Kings got one that counted 4:18 into the third period on delayed Raiders penalty. Braden Schneider took a pass on the right wing with some space and was able to skate in and snap a shot past Paddock to make it a 2-1 game.
Late in the third, Brandon thought they tied the game with 4:10 to play. A bouncing puck found its way into the Raiders' crease on a Wheat Kings power play. Luka Burzan kicked the puck into the goal from the blue paint. Upon further review, the goal was waved off since the puck was in the crease when Burzan kicked it.
As the Wheaties pressed for the equalizer, the Raiders were able to keep them at bay and out of the zone. Brandon was unable to pull Patera for the extra attacker until the final 30 seconds of the game and Paddock denied a final chance from Burzan to wrap up the win.
Paddock finished the game with 19 saves to pick up his 20th win of the season. It marks the first time the Brandon, MB product has recorded 20 wins in a season. His previous high was 19 during the 2017-18 season. Patera stopped 28 shots in the loss for the Wheat Kings.
The Raiders are off until Friday night when they open a home-and-home series with the Saskatoon Blades at SaskTel Centre. Game time is 7 p.m. The two teams meet again on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
That weekend ends on Sunday with an evening game against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The game begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the Raiders Office and raiderhockey.com.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2020
- Chiefs' Road Streak Reaches Four in 2-1 Win at Tigers - Spokane Chiefs
- Dante Giannuzzi Ties Career High 30 Saves in Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Williams Buries Last Minute OT Winner to Lift Oil Kings to 2-1 Win over Pats - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Blades Smoke Broncos for 30th Win of the Season - Saskatoon Blades
- Special Teams Spark Raiders to Win in Brandon - Prince Albert Raiders
- Broncos Drop Tough Road Game in Saskatoon - Swift Current Broncos
- Pats Fall in OT Duel to Edmonton - Regina Pats
- Game Day Hub: Saturday, February 22 vs Swift Current - Saskatoon Blades
- Game Day Hub: February 22 - Portland Winterhawks
- Game 57 vs Spokane - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, February 22 at Kamloops - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Dump Oil Kings Friday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Continue Busy Weekend at Home to Edmonton Saturday - Regina Pats
- Giants Erase a Three-Goal Third Period Deficit to Earn 11th Straight Win - Vancouver Giants
- Cougars Streaking in Wrong Direction - Prince George Cougars
- Royals Fall Short to Rockets - Victoria Royals
- Silvertips Stay on Track with Eighth Straight Win - Everett Silvertips
- Hitmen Tripped by Giants Rally - Calgary Hitmen
- Americans Defeated 4-2 in Medicine Hat - Tri-City Americans
- Portland Becomes the First WHL Club to Reach 40 Wins - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets win in Mallette's debut - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Clinch Playoff Spot by Defeating Americans 4-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Winterhawks Skate Past T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
