Dave Leaderhouse
Special to the Herald
The appetizers have been devoured and now it is time for the main course.
The Prince Albert Raiders completed a sweep of a two-game trip through southern Saskatchewan on Friday when they continued their season-long dominance of the Broncos with a 6-1 triumph at the Innovationplex in Swift Current.
That victory, which makes it seven-for-seven against the Broncos this year, comes on the heels of a 3-2 shootout decision over the Warriors in Moose Jaw on Thursday and now sets the stage for a first-place showdown with the Medicine Hat Tigers back home on Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre.
“You’re always thinking about the next day once the game is over,” admitted Raiders’ head coach Ryan McDonald moments after watching his club win its sixth straight game and increase its lead over the Tigers to two points for first place overall in the Eastern Conference. “It’s full on recovery mode; the boys have to get hydrated and get their rest.”
That rest period was shortened somewhat as Friday’s game took a little longer to complete following a steady parade to the penalty box for both sides. A total of 136 minutes in penalties were handed out including seven misconducts and four majors for fighting. Those majors were unique in that Prince Albert’s recipients were a pair of rookies. Connor Howe got into a second-period tussle with Brock Burch while Hubert Clarke and Jayden Oleskiw chucked knuckles early in the final frame.
“We played to our identity tonight,” said McDonald. “I’m proud of the guys for the way they stuck together.”
“The guys worked hard,” added McDonald. “We were playing north and we used our pace to set the tone for the game.”
As has been the case all season when playing Swift Current, the outcome of the game was never in doubt.
Jonah Sivertson got the Raiders on the board with the lone tally of the opening 20 minutes while Alisher Sarkenov, Braeden Cootes, Owen Corkish and Max Heise put the game out of reach with second-period markers. Daxon Rudolph rounded out the scoring with his 21st of the season late in the game.
The only blemish on Raider netminder Steele Bass’s night was a second-period goal from Trae Wilke. Bass improved his record to 7-0-0 this season after turning aside 23 of 24 shots he faced. At the other end of the ice, the Raiders fired 37 shots at the Swift Current tandem of Aiden Eskit and Archer Cooke, who was chased from the game after Prince Albert’s third goal early in the middle frame.
The turnaround will be short, but what waits for the Raiders on Saturday is what gets players and coaches amped up, especially at this time of the year.
“The last game (against Medicine Hat) was like a playoff game,” said McDonald referring to Prince Albert’s 8-5 victory last Saturday that snapped the Tigers’ 19-game winning streak. “Medicine Hat is a tough team.”
RAIDER NOTES – Prince Albert was once again without overage forward Brayden Dube and defenceman Linden Burrett joined him on the sidelines following an injury he incurred in Thursday’s game against the Warriors. Dube is close to returning to the line-up while it is unclear how long Burrett will be out of action… Following Friday’s game Prince Albert has outscored the Broncos 43-7 in the seven head-to-head meetings. That huge disparity goes a long way in giving the Raiders the league’s best goal differential at +95. The Raiders and Broncos have one more meeting this year with that slated for Feb. 21 in Prince Albert.
