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WHL Prince Albert Raiders

Untimely Penalties Cost Raiders in 6-4 Loss in Moose Jaw

January 5, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release


The Prince Albert Raiders and Moose Jaw Warriors battled each other in a game that saw its fair share of goals and penalties, but a penalty late in the third period proved costly, as the Warriors prevailed by a 6-4 final on Friday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

The Raiders wasted no time finding the game's first goal, as Oli Chenier found the back of the net just 2:06 into the first period. After a shot from Krzysztof Macias was fired high and wide, the rebound bounced off the end boards and back into the slot area. Chenier tracked it down and snapped an awkward looking shot home. The rookie forward's fourth goal of the season gave Prince Albert a 1-0 edge early on in the contest.

Moose Jaw tied things up on their first powerplay opportunity of the first period, as Brayden Schuurman scored with 1:31 left in the first. Cutting down the slot, Schuurman took a pass from Jagger Firkus and made his way in on Max Hildebrand. Taking it to his backhand, Schuurman tucked a shot five hole past the Raider netminder, scoring his 11th goal of the season to make it a 1-1 game after the opening 20 minutes.

The Warriors scored 34 seconds into the second period, two seconds after their powerplay expired. Rilen Kovacevic beat Hildebrand for his 12th goal of the season to give the home side a 2-1 lead. Similar to what happened on Saturday night in Prince Albert, Moose Jaw held onto a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. The Raiders outshot the Warriors 29-21 after two periods of play, but thanks to some big saves from Jackson Unger in the middle frame including a stop on a penalty shot from Eric Johnston, the Moose Jaw netminder was able to keep his team in front by one heading into the third.

Another early goal was scored to start a period, and it was Moose Jaw who extended their lead to 3-1 just 2:13 into the final regulation frame. Right after the Raiders killed off an early penalty, Pavel McKenzie scored from an impossible angle from behind the goal line. As Hildebrand was sliding to his post, McKenzie fired a shot from the corner that went off of Hildebrand's back and into the net. McKenzie's ninth goal of the campaign gave the Warriors a bit of breathing room, as they took a two-goal lead.

Niall Crocker responded just over six minutes later, finishing off a three on one rush for the Raiders. Aiden Oiring intercepted a pass in the defensive zone, and he sent a pass up the ice for Sloan Stanick. Breaking into the zone, Stanick sent a pass across the ice for Crocker, who sniped a shot top shelf past Unger for his ninth goal of the season to make it a 3-2 game.

Less than two minutes later, Atley Calvert restored Moose Jaw's two goal lead, as he beat Hildebrand for his 23rd goal of the season to make it a 4-2 lead with 9:42 left in the third. Calvert's goal was Moose Jaw's second powerplay goal of the night.

No more than two minutes after that, the Raiders got back to within one goal again, as they answered with a powerplay goal of their own. From the point, Terrell Goldsmith fired a weak shot on goal that somehow fooled Unger, as it went bar down past the Warriors goalie. Nonetheless, Goldsmith picked up his third goal of the season to make it a 4-3 game with 8:18 left in regulation.

Not satisfied with only scoring one goal in the period, Niall Crocker went out and scored the game tying goal and his second of the night with 6:46 left in the third. After a mad scramble in front of the Moose Jaw net, Crocker was able to track the loose puck and bury home his tenth goal of the season past a sprawled-out Unger. His second goal of the game and the period evened the score at 4-4, the first time the game was tied since it was 1-1.

In a game that was filled with penalty after penalty, Sloan Stanick took a costly one with 1:12 left in regulation, setting the Warriors up with a chance to score on the powerplay in the late stages of the game. They were able to do just that, as Lucas Brenton sent a pass to a wide-open Martin Rysavy on the doorstep, and the forward was able to bury his 14th goal of the season to bury the dagger in the Raiders' hopes, as he made it a 5-4 game with 49 seconds left on the clock. Jagger Firkus would seal the deal with an empty net marker with nine seconds left on the clock to make it a 6-4 final.

The Raiders have now dropped four straight games. They will look to get back in the win column tomorrow night on home ice when they welcome the Saskatoon Blades. Puck drop is 7pm.

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