By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders last in WHL after defeat in MJ

Nov 1, 2016 | 9:50 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders now find themselves in last place in the WHL after their recent slump.

They’ve now lost five of their last six contests following Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat to the Moose Jaw Warriors on the road at Mosaic Place. The Raiders are now 4-10-1 on the season.

The Raiders were tied with the Seattle Thunderbirds with nine points heading into Tuesday, but the Thunderbirds beat the Saskatoon Blades 4-3. The Thunderbirds will head to the Art Hauser Centre on Wednesday to tangle with the Raiders.

The Raiders did put in a workmanlike performance and outshot the Warriors 42-29 but Zach Sawchenko put in a crazy performance making 41 stops including all 22 he faced in the third period. The Warriors have now won five of their last six.

“We deserved a better fate tonight. I thought we played a real solid hockey game from start to end,” Raiders associate coach Dave Manson said. “I mean, we got lots of chances and Sawchenko I thought got lucky on a few but that happens. It’s definitely something to build off here, tonight.”

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The Warriors’ winning goal had a little luck to it as well, with an awkward bounce off the end boards leading to a Jayden Halbgewachs goal, his second of the game.

MJ keeps the puck in, then a weird bounce off the boards allows for Halbgewachs to put in his 2nd of the game. 2-1 Warriors pic.twitter.com/GDq1t8FmlV

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 2, 2016

Raiders newcomer Nicholas Sanders made 26 saves, but couldn’t make one on the winner as he went out to play the puck in the corner. Sanders did earn Manson’s praise after the game for his efforts, including a great toe-save on a penalty shot to rob Halbgewachs of a hat trick.

Nicholas Sanders makes by far his best save as a Raider, robbing Halbgewachs on a penalty shot with a great toe save pic.twitter.com/tPCAJq8KCr

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) November 2, 2016

“Nicky’s been real solid for us. He’s played three games and given us a chance to win in all of them. He was real good tonight,” Manson said. “Unfortunately with that bad break, that’s a part of hockey. That’s the way it goes and it is unfortunate that turned out to be the winning goal.”

Luke Coleman scored the Raiders lone goal of the year, his fourth of the season.

Warriors forward Tanner Jeannot scored an empty netter with just over a second left.

T-Birds in town Wednesday

The Seattle Thunderbirds will be in town at the Art Hauser Centre on Wednesday and it should be an emotional game as a handful of players will be battling versus former teams.

The Raiders acquired Cavin Leth and Nic Holowko from the Thunderbirds in separate trades this season. Former Raiders on the T-Birds are Layne Bensmiller and Zack Andrusiak.

The Raiders have a 2-1-1-1 record against the Thunderbirds in the last five seasons.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea