Pre-game prep looked a bit different for the Prince Albert Raiders on Monday, but the results on the ice were the same.
The Raiders arrived at the Art Hauser Centre for a rare 2 p.m. start in front of 2,908 fans on Family Day, and skated to a 6-1 win over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. The victory gives the Raiders five wins in their last six games.
“It’s definitely different,” said defenceman Daxon Rudolph, whose first period goal held up as the game winner. “We all have our routines for 7 p.m. puck drop, but 2 p.m., sometimes they throw it in there.
“It’s nice to get out and see a full building here this afternoon, but (it’s) a little bit different for sure coming to the rink earlier and only having breakfast, and things like that. Everyone did a good job so I guess it didn’t affect us too much.”
Rudolph and fellow defenceman Brock Cripps gave the Raiders all the offence they would need with two first period goals.
Cripps opened the scoring with 3:21 to play in the first on a perfectly placed wrist shot that bear Moose Jaw Warriors goaltender Chase Wutzke over the shoulder, short-side. Rudolph followed with his 24th of the season when he one-timed a pass from Aiden Oiring over Wutzke’s shoulder with 4.8 seconds left in the period.
“You’ve just got to stay focused,” Cripps said when asked about the early start. “We had to get ready for the game today and I think we did well.”
The Raiders dominated play for most of the game, outshooting the Warriors 41-21. Linden Burrett made it 3-0 late in the second with a wrist shot that beat Wurtzke stick side. Evan Smith, Alisher Sarkenov, and Ben Harvey added goals in the third—the last one coming on a penalty shot with just 19 seconds remaining.
Raider netminder Michal Orsulak faced 21 shots on the night and had a shutout going until the last minute. Warriors centre Riley Thorpe beat him high blocker side on the power play with 57 seconds remaining to get Moose Jaw on the scoreboard.
“I thought we just played our game,” Rudolph said. “A little bit of a different schedule today, obviously, (with a) 2 p.m. game, but I thought everyone did a good job of getting into their groove and playing a good, full 60 minutes.”
The Raiders and Warriors will be back on the ice Friday for a re-match in Moose Jaw. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
SUBHEADLINE: Rudolph sets new franchise record with first period power play marker
Daxon Rudolph’s first period power play goal not only gave the Prince Albert Raiders a 2-0 lead, it also gave Rudolph the Raider franchise record for most power play goals by a defenceman in a season.
That was Rudolph’s 12th goal this season with the man advantage. The previous record for a Raider defenceman belonged to Josh Morrissey, who notched 11 power play goals in the 2013-14 campaign.
“It feels great, obviously,” Rudolph said after the game. “Josh Morrissey’s having a tremendous career in the NHL, and is probably going to play for a lot more years to come. Passing a guy like that, it’s pretty cool for sure.”
Rudolph has been a big part of the Raiders’ power play success. They currently sit fifth in the league, having converted 28.9 per cent of their opportunities. Only the Calgary Hitmen, Prince George Cougars, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Everett Silvertips have been more efficient.
Rudolph said he’s played with great teammates this year, and that’s a big reason for his success with the man advantage.
“It’s just credit to my teammates (and) power play coach,” he said. “We’ve been having a good year so far. (I’m) happy to put some pucks in the net. It feels pretty good.”
At least Seven other Raiders have scored exactly 12 power play goals in a season, including Morrissey’s teammate, Leon Draisaitl, who also scored 12 in 2013-14. The Raider record for power play goals in a WHL season is held by Tony Grenier, who scored 27 in 1984-85.
