In a dramatic encounter on Wednesday night, the Prince Albert Raiders secured a playoff spot despite suffering an overtime defeat against the Calgary Hitmen, finishing the game 5-4.
The Raiders needed just a single point to lock in their playoff position and started strong, taking an early lead. However, the Hitmen rallied back, showcasing impressive goaltending and tenacity, ultimately clinching the victory in overtime.
Riley Boychuk opened the scoring for the Raiders, driving down the right wing before finding Aiden Oiring, who capitalized on a rebound to net his 23rd goal of the season at 3:22. The Hitmen quickly responded, tying the game on their first power play when Kale Dach slipped a shot through the five-hole at 5:20.
The Raiders regained the lead shortly after, with Evan Smith, Connor Howe, and Ben Harvey executing a well-coordinated forecheck. Smith retrieved the puck in the corner and assisted Harvey, who scored his fifth of the season at 11:34, giving the Raiders a 2-1 advantage at the end of the first period.
However, the Hitmen struck back in the second period. Julien Maze deftly maneuvered through the Raiders” defense to tie the game at 2-2 with a sharp-angle backhand shot at 1:29. The Raiders took the lead once more at 3:39, thanks to Maddix McCagherty”s wrist shot for his 15th goal of the season.
But the Hitmen dominated the remainder of the second period. At 14:06, they equalized again when Hunter Aura”s shot found the net after a faceoff win. The Hitmen took their first lead of the night at 16:37 when Ethan Moore redirected a pass from Maze.
The third period saw the Raiders kill an early penalty but struggle to find the back of the net against Hitmen goaltender Aidan Hesse. Finally, at 14:20, Daxon Rudolph scored for the Raiders, tying the game at 4-4. Braeden Cootes” wrist shot off the bar marked the critical equalizer.
In overtime, the Raiders began with a 40-second power play but failed to capitalize. The Hitmen then took advantage of a two-on-one rush, where Maze scored his second goal at 3:25 to secure the win.
Despite the loss, the Raiders became the first team in the Western Hockey League and the entire Canadian Hockey League to officially qualify for the playoffs. Ben Harvey”s performance has been notable, scoring in consecutive games with help from linemates Connor Howe and Evan Smith.
Next, the Raiders will host the Lethbridge Hurricanes for three consecutive home games, starting with Parents Weekend this Friday.
