Raiders find success on special teams in “gutsy” 5-4 win over Moose Jaw
The Prince Albert Raiders were two-for-two on the power play and added a shorthanded goal en route to a 5-4 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors at the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday night.
Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid called it a “gutsy” win.
“Our power play came through tonight for us and that’s good to see … we didn’t have a lot of power plays but we cashed in when we got them so that was probably the difference in the game,” he said.
Moose Jaw’s Justin Almeida opened scoring on a partial breakaway just past the four-minute mark of the first period. Raider centreman Parker Kelly was next on the board and Curtis Miske gave the Raiders their first lead less than a minute later on a wrist shot from in close.
“From the first puck drop we came out and we brought our energy and brought our compete and we were working hard and I think that really helped and we answered quick after they got their first one which really helped to keep us alive on the bench,” Raiders forward Cavin Leth said.
Raider winger Simon Stransky scored 15 seconds into the second period, firing the puck through a screen on the power play. That would be the end of the night for Warriors backup goalie Brody Willms, who was promptly replaced with starter Zach Sawchenko after allowing three goals on 11 shots.
It would take Moose Jaw only 44 seconds to tie the score 3-3. First Brayden Burke found the back of the net as he cruised through the slot on the power play, followed by Almeida notching his second of the night, flipping a rebound into an open P.A. net.
Thomas Foster scored Moose Jaw’s third-straight goal to take the lead one minute into the third period, but Leth made good on a shorthanded breakaway to even the score. Leth now has four points in his last two games.
“He’s played well for us recently through this last while. He’s really stepped up and good for him because it’s his last year and he shows a lot character by coming up and playing hard every game,” Habscheid said.
With seven minutes to go in the game, Moose Jaw’s Dmitri Zaitsev was called for boarding after a big hit on Stransky. On the ensuing P.A. power play Cole Fonstad scored the game-winning goal.
“I think we’re starting to click,” Leth said of P.A.’s improved post-trade deadline performance.
“Everyone’s starting to find (chemistry) with everybody and we’re starting to get on a roll that way and we’re all starting to gel.”
The Raiders are back on the ice Sunday afternoon in Swift Current to take on the Broncos. Game time is 4 p.m.
Game Summary
Prince Albert 5, Moose Jaw 4
First Period
- Moose Jaw, Almeida 5 (unassisted) 4:12
- Prince Albert, Kelly 9 (Olynek, Stransky) 7:34
- Prince Albert, Miske 10 (unassisted) 8:15
Second Period
- Prince Albert, Stransky 15 (Pachal) :15 (pp)
- Moose Jaw, Burke 16 (Halbgewachs, Foster) 4:03 (pp)
- Moose Jaw, Almeida 6 (Woo) 4:47
Third Period
- Moose Jaw, Foster 13 (Burke) 1:18
- Prince Albert, Leth 15 (unassisted) 4:12 (sh)
- Prince Albert, Fonstad 9 (Leth, Miller) 13:35 (pp)
Goalies: Prince Albert – Nicholas Sanders, 27 saves (W, 6-10-1-2); Moose Jaw – Zach Sawchenko, 12 saves (L, 20-8-4-1).
Three Stars: 1. Cavin Leth; 2. Justin Almeida; 3. Simon Stransky.
