By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders hold off late Rebel surge; win 5-4 in shootout

Oct 2, 2012 | 11:59 PM

What a difference a year can make.

At this time last season, the Prince Albert Raiders had just one point through their first four games and didn’t register a win until their fifth game of the season.

But after Tuesday’s 5-4 shootout win against the Red Deer Rebels, the Raiders haven’t registered a regulation loss in any of their four games, posting a 3-0-0-1 record and are tied for second in the WHL Eastern Conference.

“Many different things come into factor,” said Raiders captain Mark McNeill on the different between the two starts. “Showing up to camp, everyone’s fitness testing results were tremendous, going forward to training camp and preseason, I thought everyone was playing well.

“The systems the coaches have put forth to us, we’ve really taken those on and everyone’s playing as a team right now.”

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

11h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

11h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

16h ago

McNeill led his team by example on Tuesday as he scored two goals, not including his shootout winner. He also added an assist and a fight against Rebels assistant captain Mathew Dumba to end the second period.

The 19-year-old McNeill now leads the Raiders in points with two goals and six points in four games.

“I thought the leadership was definitely there,” said Raiders head coach Steve Young on his captain’s performance. “I think the guys push each other to be the best they can be and that happened today with Mark.”

Although the record looks pretty and the captain is locked in, there are some things to correct in the Raiders’ games this season, oddly enough, their starts.

The Raiders were outshot 15-7 by the Rebels in the first period and trailed 1-0 after the opening 20 minutes. This has been an on-going theme as the Raiders have been outshot three out of the four games they’ve played this year, 56-36 in that span.

“I think for our club right now, the last couple games we’ve had slow starts and obviously we’d like to pinpoint it as a coach—in saying that, we’re coming out with wins,” said Young. “I think it’s important that these guys understand that everything is going to matter… they just have to put it together for sixty minutes.

“A little bit frustrating that way right now, but in saying that, we’ve come back strong when we had to.”

The Raiders scored the next three goals of the game from McNeill, Anthony Bardaro and newcomer Dakota Conroy, who already has three points in two games with the Raiders.

Their 3-1 lead evaporated in the third as the Rebels outscored the Raiders 3-1 in the last twenty minutes on three Raiders mistakes.

PA forward Carson Perreaux turned the puck over at the offensive blueline, was stripped by Rebel Cory Millette who scored on a clear breakaway. Matt Bellerive scored midway through the period on a Raiders defensive breakdown and Charles Inglis scored on the power play with just over a minute left after Raiders rookie Leon Draisaitl took a holding penalty at the opposing blueline.

“The biggest message is we gotta keep going. Early in the year, so much goes on and mistakes are made. The biggest thing with mistakes is you gotta fight through them right away,” said Young. “We’ll deal with the videotape and that stuff to know exactly how to correct those things, but on the ice, you gotta be dealing with it right away in a positive matter and that’s what we tried to do tonight.”

Tuesday’s rocky rollercoaster of a game could perhaps represent the kind of start it has been for the Rebels this season. After starting 0-3, the Rebels beat the previously undefeated Calgary Hitmen 4-3 in overtime on the road Sept. 29, and then picked up another point against the Raiders.

“The first three games, we didn’t play well. We lost too many battles, we didn’t establish any physical play, we just stood around and allowed teams to dictate the play,” said Rebels head coach Jesse Wallin. “I thought in Calgary, we raised our compete level and today was the most complete game we’ve played outside of the mistakes we made that cost us goals.”

Rebels overager Charles Inglis has been a big factor as well. After scoring two goals in each of his last three games, he now leads the Western Hockey League with six goals and has scored all five of the Rebels’ power play goals this year. Both of his goals on Tuesday against the Raiders were on the man-advantage.

“I think he’s got the capability to be an elite player in the league. Is he? I think he’s still got that to prove,” said Wallin, whose Rebels acquired Inglis in the offseason from the Prince George Cougars.

“He’s got very good talent, he’s got the ability to score goals as he’s shown of late, but that’s what we need from him.”

The Raiders themselves have gotten some production from recently acquired players.

Dakota Conroy, who came in a trade from Victoria late last week, scored his second goal as a Raider in as many games. Evan Morden, who came from Everett shortly before the regular season started, added another assist and now has four in three games.

That’s been crucial as the Raiders injury list continues to climb as they’re missing Tim Vanstone (lower body), Mike Winther (lower body), Zach Hodder (upper body), as well as Antoine Corbin (AHL tryout with the Hamilton Bulldogs).

“If you look at our games, pretty much every game we’ve lost a player,” said Young. “It makes it tough, you do a lot of shuffling. But the guys that have been able to come, whether it’s trades or the Joey Santucci’s, whoever it is, have been able to come in and step right in and that’s been important.

“It’s nice to get it from everybody and in the games we’ve played, everybody’s been able to contribute.”

The Raiders will embark on a four-game road trip, playing Edmonton (3-1) Thursday, Calgary (3-0-1) Friday, Kootenay (1-3) on Sunday then Lethbridge (2-2) on Tuesday.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea