Great Scott but still Raiders can’t sweep Pats

“[The power play] was just average. We’ve got some guys that probably aren’t used to playing on there, but we got one goal on it,” Habscheid said. “It was a nice goal, it would have been nice to get a few more but we’ve got some guys away that are usually on it.

“There is, but you need skill on the power play. I’ve done five forwards before and we just felt we wanted Simon back there for the fact he’s got great vision on the ice and to quarterback it.”

Captain Tim Vanstone, who saw bit of time with the man-advantage, said they were able to create some chances but couldn’t capitalize.

“I think we moved the puck pretty good, but a little more execution would probably be best,” Vanstone said. “Just even on the penalty kill too [1-3], we could be a little bit better on that. All in all, it’s a learning experience and we’ll get better.”

Beam me up Scotty

Raiders sophomore goaltender Ian Scott had a busy weekend. He made 41 saves on Saturday in the 4-2 loss, a night after stopping 42 pucks in Regina.

“What you see is what you get with Ian. He’s a special player, a special goaltender and we’re happy to have him,” Vanstone said. “The saves you don’t think should be made are always being made by that guy.

“He was our rock this weekend, we couldn’t pull it out for him tonight but he was definitely our best player, for sure.”

Scoring summary

Jake Leschyshyn opened the scoring for the Pats, as he got sprung on a breakaway and went low blocker side on Ian Scott. He also ended the scoring, with an empty net goal from his own zone.

Lane Zablocki had a goal and an assist, with Braydon Buziak getting the game winner.

Scoring for the Raiders were 20-year-olds Kolten Olynek and Austin Glover, who both have two goals on the season.

Simon Stransky got assists on both the Raiders’ goals and has now points on five of the six Raiders’ goals to start the season.

Stransky went undrafted at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo this summer, but got an invite from the Boston Bruins to play with their rookie squad this fall. Stransky arrived back late on Thursday evening, without getting a practice in with the Raiders, just in time to play with the Pats.

“I just want to show everyone that I’m still a good hockey player and that I work hard as anybody in the league,” Stransky said. “I just want to show everyone that they made a big mistake.”

Roster updates

Raiders 19-year-old defenceman Loch Morrison took a knock early in the first period and did not return for the final 40 minutes. As a result, 15-year-old defenceman Adam Herold was inserted into the lineup. Herold was the Raiders’ second round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

Raiders forward Drew Warkentine served his three-game suspension and was able to return to the lineup.

Warkentine received the ban for a crosschecking major in a preseason affair against the Blades Sept. 10 in Warman. Warkentine was forced to sit out the two remaining exhibition contests, as well as the Raiders’ season opener on Friday.

Still campin’

For the second straight game, both the Raiders and Pats had five veterans still out camping with NHL clubs. The Raiders are still without Reid Gardiner (Pittsburgh), Rylan Parenteau (Vancouver), Luke Coleman (Detroit) and Brendan Guhle and Vojtech Budik who are both with the Buffalo Sabres. The Pats were forced to scratch Adam Brooks (Toronto), Sam Steel (Anaheim), Austin Wagner (Los Angeles), Sergey Zborovskiy (New York Rangers) and former Raider prospect Connor Hobbs (Washington).

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Great Scott but still Raiders can’t sweep Pats

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