Raiders capture early lead, defeat Wheat Kings 4-1 in Brandon
D-Jay Jerome scored a goal and an assist and netminder Ian Scott stopped 33 shots as the Prince Albert Raiders defeated the Brandon Wheat kings 4-1 at Westman Place on Saturday night.
“They played real good. I thought it was a solid game. I thought structurally we were real sound. We had a good balance; we were aggressive but yet patient and played a real smart game,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said.
Raider defenceman Austin Crossley kicked off scoring with his first career WHL goal off a poor Brandon clearing attempt six minutes into the game.
“When a guy like that gets his first goal everyone’s pretty happy for him and he had a big smile on his face,” Habscheid said.
Later in the frame P.A.’s Cavin Leth tipped in a Brayden Pachal screen shot to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Habscheid said seizing the lead was important coming on the heels of an “emotional” home loss to the Everett Silvertips and a long bus ride to Manitoba.
Jerome added to the Raiders’ lead in the second period, scoring off a behind-the-back, between-the-legs bank shot on the goal line. The puck bounced off Brandon goalie Travis Child and into the net but the goal was not immediately called on the play. The officials gave the goal a second look and concluded that it was good.
The score remained 3-0 P.A. until the half-way mark of the third period, when Wheaties leading scorer Reid Duke finally beat Raiders netminder Ian Scott while falling down to put his team on the board. Scott stopped 33 shots in the win.
“He played good, especially late, but our guys played real structural and real defensively around him and when they got an opportunity he made the save,” Habscheid said of his goaltender.
With about five minutes to go in the game Parker Kelly snapped home his 13th goal of the year to give P.A. a 4-1 lead.
The Raiders are back in action on Family Day Monday when they play host to the Regina Pats. Puck drop is 4 p.m.
Game Summary
Prince Albert 4, Brandon 1
First Period
- Prince Albert, Crossley 1 (Jerome, Olynek) 5:53
- Prince Albert, Leth 18 (Pachal, Budik) 11:22
Second Period
- Prince Albert, Jerome 7 (Moe, Heid) 16:15
Third Period
- Brandon, Duke 33 (Coulter, Shearer) 10:27 (pp)
- Prince Albert, Kelly 13 (Stransky) 15:42
Goalies: Prince Albert – Ian Scott, 33 saves (W, 8-27-2-0); Brandon – Travis Child, 23 saves (L, 17-4-1-3).
Three Stars: 1. Ian Scott; 2. D-Jay Jerome; 3. Reid Duke.
