The Prince Albert Raiders evened up the season series with the Saskatoon Blades with a 6-3 win at the SaskTel Centre on New Year’s Day.
Raider interim head coach Ryan McDonald says he was pleased with the bounce back effort after the loss at the Art Hauser Centre on Monday.
“I thought the guys really managed pucks well in the neutral zone, made sure we got pucks behind, got on our forecheck, made sure we had a good three forwards in the offensive zone and we created a lot of chaos around the net.”
While the home-standing Blades controlled the shot clock 15-13 after the first period, it would be the visiting Raiders who held the lead on the scoreboard after twenty minutes of play.
Tomas Mrsic opened the scoring with his 21st goal of the season at the 6:51 mark. Brayden Dube would fire a hard shot off the right wing that was stopped by Evan Gardner but the rebound would go off the shin of Mrsic and into the back of the net.
The Raider power play would strike at the 12:40 mark as Brayden Dube picked up his second power play goal in as many games and 17th of the season. Lukas Dragicevic and Aiden Oiring assisted on the play.
Aiden Oiring would extend the Raider lead to three with his 14th goal of the season at the 5:27 mark of the middle frame. Mrsic picked up his second point of the night with a helper.
Riley Boychuk added to the Prince Albert lead with his fourth goal of the season at the 9:58 mark. Niall Crocker and Dayce Derkatch assisted on the play.
Oiring struck with his second goal of the night at the 11:42 mark to put the Raiders up 5-0. Daxon Rudolph had an assist. Ben Harvey picked up his first WHL point with an assist on the play.
McDonald says Oiring has been one of the most valuable players for the Raiders this season.
“The points are one thing, but it’s all the little details within this game that make you so excited every time he goes on the ice. He’s in the face-off circle to his low play in the defensive zone and how he supports pucks on exits. The offense speaks for itself but (he’s) just a tremendous all-around hockey player.”
After the second Oiring goal, the Blades would pull starting netminder Evan Gardner who let in five goals on 22 shots faced and was replaced by Ethan McCallum.
The Blades would respond with a pair of goals coming just thirty seconds apart.
Cooper Williams would pick up his eighth goal of the campaign at the 13:16 mark. Zach OIsen had the lone assist on the play.
Ben Riche would strike for the 22nd time this season just thirty seconds later on a pretty passing play. Tyler Parr and Brandon Lisowsky assisted on the play.
Riche would pick up his second goal of the night with just 33 seconds left to go in the third period.
Niall Crocker would ice the game with an empty net goal with his 13th goal of the season with less than 10 seconds to go. Justice Christensen assisted on the play.
Max Hildebrand made 34 saves to earn the win for the Raiders.
Prince Albert returns to action on Friday night when they travel to take on the Moose Jaw Warriors. Puck drops at 7 p.m.