Brandon Gorzynski was the overtime hero as the Prince Albert Raiders eliminated the Red Deer Rebels in five games after a 4-3 overtime win at the Art Hauser Centre on Friday night.
The Rebels tied the game on a goal by Nate Yellowaga with 43.6 seconds left in the third period to send the game to overtime.
The overtime playoff winner was the first one since Dante Hannoun won the Raiders the WHL Title in 2019 in overtime in Game 7. Gorzynski said it felt great to score it.
“(It’s) kind of a weight off the shoulders,” Gorzynski said. “I mean, they’re a good team and they push us hard, but we didn’t want to go back to Red Deer. It felt amazing, and to get it with those guys, we worked so hard and I think we dominated that series. I think we deserved that one.”
Yellowaga’s goal deflected off the body of defenseman Justice Christensen with Red Deer’s goalie pulled. Gorzynski said they didn’t change their attitude after the goal because bad bounces like that happen.
“It’s the playoffs and crazy bounces and things like that (happen), but we dominated that game,” he said. “We didn’t change the way we played at all and came out in overtime confident and played with some swagger.”
Gorzynski said he came on the ice in the overtime and opportunity knocked on his wraparound goal. The Raider forward had an open crease with Rebels goalie Matthew Kondro out of position.
“I just got on the ice and then went to the far side and kept seeing a nice pass,” Gorzynski said. “I picked my head up and saw I had some space and went to the zone, (and) dropped it off to Duber (Brayden Dube). He shot it and then it was kind of just laying there.”
Raiders head coach Ryan McDonald said the players worked hard all game, played the right way and were relentless, especially on the overtime winner.
“(It’s) just a great play getting the puck underneath and getting that shot and grabbing that second opportunity,” McDonald said. “He did such a great job. He used his body all night, was physical, got to the inside, (and) got his looks.”
McDonald said credited the team’s even keel nature for their ability to bounce back in overtime after giving up a late tying goal.
“Our leadership group does an absolutely tremendous job, right down to the youngest guy in the team,” McDonald said. “We just continue to go about our business, no matter what happens.
“The guys came back that next shift after that one went in and we marched down, we got a couple opportunities right before the final buzzer went, and again, just continue to play the right way.”
Defenceman Brock Cripps had a three-point night including a goal and two assists, one being on Gorzynski’s winner. Cripps said he was on a change when he got the assist on the goal.
“I just got a change and then I saw Brandon wrap around on the front of the net,” Cripps said. “I was really excited. All the guys on the bench were pretty pumped to finally get the job done and move on to the next one.”
Cripps opened the scoring with a goal from the point 5:49 into the game with assists from Benett Kelly and Evan Smith.
“(It was), definitely nice to put one in the back of the net there to get our team going,” Cripps said. “Good pass by my D partner, Benett Kelly. I think he set me up at a good spot there.”
Beckett Hamilton tied it for Red Deer at 11:38 of the first period.
The Raiders opened the scoring in the second Owen Corkish scored with assists to Smith and Cripps just over two minutes into the period. The Raiders took a 3-1 lead on a goal by Linden Burrett from Brayden Dube at 14:36 of the second period.
The Rebels the game to a 3-2 score on a goal by Kohen Lodge from Kalder Varga and Jake Missura at 17:26 of the second period.
Gorzynski said he got the idea for the wraparound because of goalie coach Dan Ferguson.
“Our goalie coach actually said that he comes out pretty far and Duber had wraparounds there,” Gorzynski said. “It’s all the way out of the net. It’s an empty net coming back. I saw it kind of sit behind the net there. I just took it around.”
With the series over, McDonald gave credit to the Rebels for their play.
“Tip of the cap to them,” he said. “They play a real hard-nosed style playoff game. It’s hard to get to the inside. They’re very physical, and they throw everything in the paint. Again, for our group, it’s every game is an experience where you can learn from, and you also gain experience from playing those games.”
Cripps agreed that the Rebels were a tough out in the first round.
“They’re definitely a team that plays hard and doesn’t take a shift off,” he said. “It’s hard to play against. I respect them. They’re a good hockey club there. I think we just stayed with it.”
Cripps gave credit to the loud announced crowd of 3,134.
“I think it’s special to have this big of a crowd here and all the energy they create for us,” he said. “I think it really helps us get energized for the game. They fuel us a lot.”
McDonald also gave credit to the community and crowd for rallying behind the team.
“This whole organization, this group, this town, this city, it’s such just one big family,” McDonald said. “I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of it for a lot of years. Again, the crowd that we had out there to really rallies our guys. When you’re walking around town and people talk to you and wish you good luck, for the next game, it’s just one big family,” McDonald said.
The Raiders Michal Orsulak made 20 saves and Kondro made 44 saves.
The Raiders will play either the Calgary Hitmen or Saskatoon Blades in round two. The Blades and Edmonton Oil Kings played Game 7 on Monday. Results were not available by press time.
If the Blades win, the Raiders will play Saskatoon. If the Oil Kings win, Prince Albert will play Calgary.
Regardless of their second round opponent, Games 1 and 2 are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
News and Notes
According to the X (formerly known as Twitter) account WHL History The most recent Raiders playoff overtime heroes prior to Friday night were.
– Dante Hannoun (G7 19 Final VAN)
– Caine Pearpoint (G6 05 SF BDN)
– Brett Ottmann (G5 05 QF MH – 2OT)
– Ryan DePape (G4 05 R1 SAS)
– Jeff Nelson (G1 92 SF SAS)
This was also the first overtime win at the Art Hauser Centre for the Raiders since March 5, 2022 when Nolan Allan found the back of the net in a 3-2 triumph over the Winnipeg Ice.
