By Jeff D'Andrea

Stransky snipes in OT in Raiders’ opening win; GIF highlights

Sep 23, 2016 | 9:53 PM

Simon Stransky didn’t practice at all with the Prince Albert Raiders, as he arrived from the Boston Bruins rookie squad late on Thursday. But that didn’t matter at all on Friday.

Stransky was the star of the show, as he scored two goals in the Raiders’ 4-3 overtime victory against the Regina Pats in the Queen City.

Stransky was the OT hero, as he kept it on a 2-on-1 and went far side on Tyler Brown 2:57 into the extra period.

.@stranas83 ends it in OT with his second of the game. @PARaidersHockey win 4-3 in OT over the Pats pic.twitter.com/2mu0V3owg0

— Jeff D’Andrea (@jeff_dandrea) September 24, 2016

He also tied the game at 2-2 in the third period, directly after Austin Glover won an offensive zone faceoff.

Making a splash

P.A. Pikes sees numbers nearly double during 2023/24 season

May 02, 2024

Golden girl

'Super special': P.A.'s Zablocki reflects on Esso Cup win, reveals plans for next season

May 02, 2024

Court proceedings

'I didn't shoot anybody': testimony wraps up at Prince Albert murder trial

May 01, 2024

Stransky ties the game early in the third period. They don’t give Glover the assist but he won the draw and got it to him. pic.twitter.com/ZLgBdxTMGj

— Jeff D’Andrea (@jeff_dandrea) September 24, 2016

Raiders goaltender Ian Scott made 42 saves to keep the Raiders in the game early. The Raiders were out shot 27-12 after two periods, but thanks to Scott, they trailed only 2-1 and were able to claw back into the game.

After Stransky opened the scoring in the third, Kolten Olynek scored just over a minute later to make it a 3-2 game.

Olynek scores just over a minute later to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead. Great work from Andrusiak to get him the puck pic.twitter.com/64tmVWluxh

— Jeff D’Andrea (@jeff_dandrea) September 24, 2016

The Pats kept the game alive after Braydon Buziak scored his first WHL career goal with 4:48 left in the third period to force overtime.

Riley Woods and Chase Harrison scored the other Pats goals. Tyler Brown made 26 saves on 30 shots in goal for Regina.

The first one of the year

Austin Glover scored the first goal of the season for the Raiders, capping off a beautiful passing sequence on the power play.

Here’s the first @PARaidersHockey goal of the season, beautiful passing play and it’s Austin Glover finishing it off pic.twitter.com/sOs07F5TB6

— Jeff D’Andrea (@jeff_dandrea) September 24, 2016

Signage

The Raiders announced on Twitter the signing of forward Zack Andrusiak Friday afternoon before the game. Andrusiak, a 1998-born forward, arrived at camp as a free agent but has cracked the Raiders’ 2016-2017 regular season roster.

Andrusiak scored the Raiders’ first goal of the preseason, against the Regina Pats Sept. 9, and added two more assists in five preseason games.

Andrusiak made his Raider debut on Friday, along with Nick Heid, Lane Kirk, Nic Holowko and Cody Thompson. The Yorkton product registered an assist on Olynek’s goal.

Still campin’

The Raiders and Pats were forced to play young lineups as both teams have five of their veterans still camping with NHL teams. The Raiders are missing Reid Gardiner (Pittsburgh), Rylan Parenteau (Vancouver), Luke Coleman (Detroit) and Brendan Guhle and Vojtech Budik who are both with the Buffalo Sabres. The Pats are still waiting for Adam Brooks (Toronto), Sam Steel (Anaheim), Austin Wagner (Los Angeles), Sergey Zborovskiy (New York Rangers) and former Raider prospect Connor Hobbs (Washington).

Home opener

The Raiders are playing their first home game of the campaign Saturday night in a rematch against the Pats. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea