By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders playoff hopes much thinner after loss to EDM

Mar 1, 2015 | 6:39 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders aren’t mathematically out of the WHL postseason, but their playoff picture just got a lot dimmer.

The Raiders lost to the Edmonton Oil Kings 5-3 Sunday at Rexall Place in what was a must-win, four-point game. The Oil Kings, who currently sit in the second WHL Eastern Conference wild card spot, extended their season’s points lead to 13 over the Raiders with the victory.

The Raiders now have only 10 games to make up the deficit and also have to leapfrog over the ninth place Moose Jaw Warriors, who are five points ahead. Even if the Raiders win all 10 of their remaining games, the Oil Kings would only have to win four of their remaining nine to seal the Raiders’ fate.  

The Raiders are also 14 points back of the Swift Current Broncos, who are third in the WHL East Division.

The Raiders took the first six shots of the game in the opening three minutes, but on came the Oil Kings as Edgars Kulda opened the scoring and Brett Pollock potted two goals as the Oil Kings got out to a 3-0 start. Raiders forward Sean Montgomery stopped the bleeding for the Raiders late in the period to make it 3-1.

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Mads Eller scored just 21 seconds into the second period to chase Raiders goaltender Rylan Parenteau from the game. Parenteau surrendered four goals on 17 shots.

Raiders sniper Reid Gardiner made it 4-2 midway through the second, but Lane Bauer scored just 24 seconds after for the Oil Kings to extend their lead to 5-2.

Raiders forward Simon Stransky scored in the third period to give the Raiders life in a 5-3 hockey game, but it wasn’t enough as the Raiders fell to the Oil Kings 5-3.

Silver for Scott

Prince Albert Raiders goalie prospect Ian Scott led Team Alberta to the finals of the U16 Canada Winter Games, but lost in the gold medal game to Team Ontario 3-1. He made 31 saves in the finals, ending up with the silver medal.

Scott played in five of Alberta’s six tournament games and finished with a 4-1 record and a .931 save percentage (134 saves on 144 shots).

Team Saskatchewan, which featured three Mintos in Jake Hobson, Erik Gardiner and Riley Sawchuk, got to the quarterfinals but lost to Ontario 9-0. Hobson had a two goals, two assists in the tournament.

Five-game homestand

The Raiders will play their next five games at home, with a Tuesday contest against the Oil Kings, a Friday night game against the Brandon Wheat Kings and a Saturday night affair against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Raiders will then play the Regina Pats on March 10, to make up for the cancelled game on Valentine’s Day, before taking on the Swift Current Broncos on March 13.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea