The Prince Albert Raiders overcame a slow start to knock off the Calgary Hitmen 4-2 on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre.
Raider head coach Jeff Truitt says Prince Albert played a very structured game in the winning effort.
“It was an intense game with their firepower and how they generate offense. We had to be on our toes defensively and I thought that for the most part our guys had a real good job, real happy with their structure. They made a price. Blocked some shots and eliminated some of the things that we saw on video that helped us win tonight. That was a hard game and our team raised it and made some really good plays to get the 4-2 win.”
The visiting Hitmen would pepper the shot clock early in the first period outshooting the Raiders 17-3.
Ben Kindel would open the scoring at the 2:26 mark as the 17-year-old forward would strike for his 30th goal of the season on a second opportunity. Dax Williams and Tanner Howe picked up the assists.
Riley Boychuk’s 10th goal of the season knotted up the score at the 8:27 mark on Prince Albert’s second shot of the hockey game. Jackson Kostiuk and Tyrone Sobry assisted on the play.
The Raiders would head to a five minute power play late in the first period as Ben Kindel would be assigned a five minute major for a cross check to Harrison Lodewyk.
Brayden Dube would give the Raiders their first lead of the night with a power play goal 2:29 into the second period. Aiden Oiring and Lukas Dragicevic provided the helpers.
Just 21 seconds later, Tanner Howe would pick the pocket of a Raider and finish on the breakaway for his 13th goal of the season to tie the game.
Harrison Lodewyk would restore the Raider lead just 0:57 into the third period. On a 2-on-1 with Tomas Mrsic, Lodewyk attempted to pass to the St. Louis Blues prospect, but the puck would go off the stick of Hitmen defender Carter Yakemchuk into the back of the net for Lodewyk’s ninth goal of the season. Dube and Dragicevic had the helpers.
Ty Meunier would double the Raider lead with his 11th goal of the season at the 2:18 mark. A creative move would give the 16-year-old space to fire off a wrist shot past Miller to give Prince Albert an insurance goal. Linden Burrett had the lone helper.
Truitt says it was crucial to get markers from both Boychuk and Meunier.
“I don’t even know if I’m going to call them young players anymore because they’re contributing all the time. They’re picking their spots and capitalizing. That’s what we need, depth guys going, young guys going, older guys going. It’s a total team effort right now. It’s great to see them get on the score sheet.”
Calgary would press late in the third period as the Hitmen would pull Miller for a sixth skater while on the power play late in the frame.
Dimitri Fortin stood tall, preventing the Hitmen from getting any closer making 37 saves in the contest to preserve the Raider lead.
Truitt says Fortin did a good job at preventing the Hitmen from getting good looks on second opportunities.
“There were some funny pucks that kind of laid around him, but he got to them and when he didn’t get to him, our defencemen helped out and that’s the partnership that you do need. I thought he was really good here tonight, made some good saves and stopped the puck behind the net to help us out a little bit.”
Anders Miller stopped 24 of 28 Raider shots in net for the Hitmen
The Raiders return to action for a Monday afternoon matinee with the Moose Jaw Warriors on the road. Puck drops at 2 p.m.
sports@paherald.sk.ca
