By Jeff D'Andrea

Debatable call aids Rebels’ win over Raiders

Jan 13, 2017 | 9:26 PM

It’s been that kind of season for the Prince Albert Raiders, they can’t seem to get any luck.

Tied 3-3 late in the third to the Red Deer Rebels (20-17-4-2), the Rebels took advantage of a controversial penalty to get the 4-3 game-winner with just three minutes remaining Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre. That extends the Raiders’ (8-32-2-2) winless streak to (0-6-1-1).

With 4:14 left in the third period, Raiders captain Tim Vanstone took the puck hard to the front of the net and was stopped by Rebels goaltender Riley Lamb. In the process, Vanstone clipped Lamb on the way by was given a goaltender inference penalty, which the Raider faithful filled the Art Hauser Centre with boos and jeers. Rebels sniper Adam Musil scored on the ensuing power play for the 4-3 game winner.

“It was not a penalty,” a stern Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said.

The Raiders led after the first period with goals from Parker Kelly and captain Tim Vanstone.

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The Raiders got into some penalty trouble in the second period, surrendering a 1:45 5-on-3 to the Rebels. Alexander Alexeyev scored 24 seconds into the two-man advantage, and Lane Zablocki scored five seconds after the second penalty expired to tie it at 2-2 heading into the third.

Curtis Miske got his second goal as a Raider to start the third, tipping home a Cavin Leth point shot. Miske now has two goals and four points in five Raider games.

Rebels forward Michael Spacek undressed the entire Raiders team while shorthanded to tie the game at 3-3 seven minutes into the third period.

Midway through the third period, Raiders leading point getter Simon Stransky was hit at his own blueline by Rebels defenceman Brandon Schuldhaus and needed assistance to get to the Raiders bench. He did not return for the final 10 minutes of the game.

“He hasn’t been evaluated yet, so we’ll see,” Habscheid.

Something said, updated

Late in the second period, Raiders forward Kolby Johnson and coach Habscheid were both agitated after a stoppage in play. Habscheid argued to the referees for an extended period of time before play continued.

After the game, Habscheid alleged one of the Rebels’ players said something to Johnson. Although he didn’t get into specifics, or who the Rebel was, Habscheid did confirm he took offence to it.

“Something was said on the ice which was across the line. I will stick up for my players every time,” Habscheid. “That’s not called for. I hope the league looks into it.”

After the game paNOW was told from a member of the Raiders organization who was close to the incident that a Rebels player did a throat slashing gesture towards Johnson and said in a southern twang accent “you’re gonna get it, boy.” They could not identify the Rebels player. During the 900 CKBI broadcast, colour commentator Martin Ring alleged that Rebels defenceman Colton Bobyk was the culprit.

Brotherly love

Before the game, Raiders defenceman Max Martin was seen chatting and laughing with his bigger brother Dawson Martin, who played for the visiting Rebels.

Max, who had an assist in the game for the Raiders and was the game’s second star, went head-to-head at times in the game against Dawson and said that was a neat experience.

“It’s pretty cool to be able to play against your brother in an elite league like this,” Max said. “Just got to catch up with him in warmups, then it’s all hands on deck.”

The Martin brothers, Raiders’ Max (left) and Rebels’ Dawson share a laugh during warm ups @MartyMcfly3712 pic.twitter.com/noaLsf02yk

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 14, 2017

Taking the Gloves off

Austin Glover did something he’s never done before in his career on Friday. He played a WHL game at the Art Hauser Centre on the visiting team.

“This is actually the only rink I haven’t played in on an opposition team. I didn’t play here with Kelowna, I was always hurt,” said Glover, who had an assist in the game. “That for one is different. Playing against all these guys, especially since [the trade] was only a couple weeks ago, will be pretty cool.”

Glover originally came over to the Raiders on Dec. 10, 2014 as part of the Josh Morrissey trade. He scored a 32 goals and 85 points in 113 games with the Raiders from his arrival, until his departure on Dec. 28 in the deal to the Rebels, which sent D-Jay Jerome the other way.

On Dec. 28, the Raiders were preparing to face the Saskatoon Blades but made the Glover to Red Deer deal for D-Jay Jerome and a third round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft mere hours before the game.

“That was one of the crazier days I’ve had in this league, for sure,” Glover said. “I was kind of focusing on getting ready to play. I had the flu and wasn’t really feeling too well. I knew that was going to kind of be an adventure as it is in the game. I show up to the rink, started to get ready and the whirlwind kind of started. I packed up and came back here [to Prince Albert], got my stuff from my billet’s house and off I went. It was a crazy day, but things are kind of settled in now.”

Weekend warriors

For the next three weekends, the Raiders are going to play 3-in-3 stretches from Friday to Sunday.

After Friday’s contest, the Raiders will take on the Regina Pats in a home-and-home series Saturday and Sunday.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW