Vitelli Strikes Twice as Raiders Down Tigers
February 21, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Medicine Hat, Alta. - Captain Reece Vitelli scored a pair of goals in the third period to lift the Prince Albert Raiders (17-26-2-1) to a 4-1 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers (9-32-3-1) on Monday afternoon at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat.
It was Vitelli's 17th and 18th goals of the season, bringing him into a tie with Evan Herman for the team lead in goals.
Sloan Stanick and Keaton Sorensen also scored for the Raiders in the win. Ozzy Wiesblatt chipped in a pair of assists.
The Tigers got the scoring started with a power-play goal 7:08 into the contest. Daniel Baker's shot from the point hit a body in front of Tikhon Chaika. Owen MacNeil found the loose puck and his quick shot got past the Raiders goaltender to put the Tigers ahead 1-0.
The Raiders responded with a power-play goal of their own with 6:54 remaining in the opening period. Wiesblatt whipped a cross-zone pass to Landon Kosior at the left wing. His shot was stopped by Garin Bjorklund, but the rebound popped into the air. Stanick knocked it down, but was bowled over before he was able to get his stick on the puck by Baker. The puck eventually went in after deflecting off Baker's skate, giving Stanick his 15th goal of the season.
A scoreless second period followed, though the Raiders had their chances to pull ahead. Vitelli broke away with Evan Herman on a shorthanded two-on-one rush, but Bogdans Hodass broke up the play.
Defensively, the Raiders were able to kill off both penalties in a Tigers' two-man advantage which lasted for 1:53.
The Raiders broke the deadlock 4:08 into the third period. Trevor Thurston cut off a Tigers rush at the red line and dumped it into the Medicine Hat end. Vitelli chased it down, made a toe drag move around Rhett Parsons to the centre of the net, then cut back to the right post to stuff it past Bjorklund to give the Raiders a 2-1 advantage.
Vitelli recorded the insurance marker on the power play with 7:28 to go. After Wiesblatt had his own shot blocked, the San Jose Sharks prospect collected the puck and made a quick backhand pass to Vitelli at the top of the slot. The Raiders captain blasted a one-timer past Bjorklund to make it 3-1.
Sorensen wrapped up the scoring with an empty-net marker with 3:00 to play. He chased down the puck in the Tigers end after Herman and Carson Latimer worked together to chip the puck out of the Raiders' end.
Chaika stopped 23 shots to earn his 12th win of the season. Bjorklund finished the game with 19 saves for the Tigers in the loss.
The Raiders continue their trip through Alberta on Wednesday night when they head to Calgary to clash with the Hitmen. Game time is 7 p.m. CST. Catch the game on WHL Live, or head to either The Rock And Iron Club House or Original Joe's to watch.
The next Raiders' home game is on Saturday, March 5 when they host the Winnipeg ICE at the Art Hauser Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m. CST. Tickets are available at the Raiders Office during working hours and at SaskTix.ca.
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