Following a successful start to their road trip with a victory in Calgary, the Prince Albert Raiders faced off against the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Raiders, they experienced a repeat of earlier this week, as the Rebels rallied to secure a 3-1 win by scoring three goals in the third period.
The first period was marked by a defensive struggle, with both teams managing only seven shots each. A notable moment occurred when Justice Christensen delivered a significant hit on Patrick Sopiarz. In response, Sopiarz attempted to retaliate, leading to a spirited fight between the two, with no clear victor. Following this bout, the Raiders were awarded a power play; however, a subsequent scuffle resulted in one of their players receiving a roughing penalty, setting the stage for a series of four-on-four play. Despite the open ice, neither team could break the deadlock.
After the first period, the score remained tied at 0-0, with both teams registering seven shots.
When the Raiders finally secured a power play opportunity, Justice Christensen made his mark. With assistance from Alisher Sarkenov, Christensen maneuvered the puck at the left point. After cycling with Brayden Dube, Christensen found a shooting lane and unleashed a shot that found the back of the net at 7:49, marking his 15th goal of the season and putting the Raiders up 1-0.
The action continued with overlapping penalties that kept both teams off the ice for five-on-five play for nearly six minutes. Despite these opportunities, neither team could capitalize, and the Raiders held a 1-0 advantage after two periods, outshooting the Rebels 11-7 in the second and leading 18-14 overall.
As the third period commenced, the Rebels found a stroke of luck that allowed them to even the score. At 12:46, Beckett Hamilton took a shot from the right side, which was initially saved. However, the puck deflected high into the air. As Hamilton circled behind the net, he swatted at the falling puck, which caught just enough of Steele Bass“s pad to cross the goal line, tying the game at one.
At 16:37, the Rebels took the lead with a fortunate goal. Matej Mikes had a strong shot from the right slot that was redirected by Owen DeWitt, who was engaged in a battle with Linden Burrett in front of the net. With the Rebels suddenly leading, they were in a favorable position.
With the Raiders” net empty in a desperate attempt to equalize, Matej Mikes sealed the game at 19:19 by stealing the puck along the left wall and sliding it into the vacant net.
The final score stood at Raiders 1, Rebels 3, with the Raiders outshooting the Rebels by a margin of 11-7 in the final period and 29-21 overall.
The Raiders will conclude their three-game road stretch against Edmonton on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. (Note: The game time has changed from the initially reported 5:00 p.m. Saskatchewan time due to the Daylight Savings time adjustment in Alberta.)
