By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders freeze late in loss to ICE

Jan 18, 2017 | 10:00 PM

During a 3-3 tie in the third period Wednesday, Prince Albert Raiders froze under pressure in Cranbrook against the Kootenay ICE.

The ICE (11-27-7-1) scored three unanswered goals in the third to emerge to 6-3 over the Raiders (8-34-3-2). The Raiders are now winless in their last 11 games (0-8-2-1). Meanwhile, the ICE snapped a three-game losing streak.

The ICE got their best performance for 15-year-old phenom Peyton Krebs, who had a goal and three assists in the contest. Krebs, the first overall pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, was called up to the ICE on an emergency basis as they have five players dealing with injuries.

Krebs’ goal was not only his first of his young WHL career, but was also the game winning marker in the third period.

“Simple D-zone face off, we get out battled out front of the net,” Raiders associate coach Dave Manson said on Krebs’ crucial goal to make it 4-3. “If we’re going to have any kind of success through the regular season, we’re going to need a lot tighter checking games and a lot more effort, to be quite honest.”

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The Raiders had a 2-0 lead early in the second period and looked to be in control.

Raiders rookie defenceman Zack Hayes scored his first goal in his WHL career to open the scoring in the first period. Earlier on Wednesday, Hayes was recognized by the NHL Central Scouting, placing him 152^nd overall among North American skaters.

Adam Kadlec extended the Raiders’ lead to 2-0 to start the sandwich stanza, after receiving a beautiful backhanded feed from linemate Kolby Johnson.

But the ICE rattled off three straight goals in the second period from Brett Davis (power play), Noah Philp and Max Patterson, who also added an empty net goal.

“We got out to a 2-0 lead and that penalty kill [on Davis’ goal], we had two guys fall on the wrong side. I don’t know if we thought we had a chance to score, but that seemed to be the turning point of the game for me,” Manson said. “It just boiled down to coverage issues. The same thing happened over and over.”

Raiders 20-year-old Jordy Stallard tied the game in the third period. That was his third goal and fourth point so far in his five-game tenure with the Raiders.

Ian Scott, who was named as the second-ranked North American goaltender by NHL Central Scouting on Wednesday, made 21 saves on 26 shots. Payton Lee was much busier in the ICE crease, made 40 saves on 43 saves.

Not making the trip

Two of the three injured Prince Albert Raiders forwards did not make the trip out for the Raiders’ road swing this week.

Forwards Simon Stransky and Drew Warkentine stayed in Prince Albert to nurse their ailments.

Raiders captain Tim Vanstone did travel with the team, but did not dress for Wednesday’s game. All three forwards have upper body injuries.

Not getting easier

The Raiders will play another 3-in-3 weekend with games in Red Deer against the Rebels on Friday, in Edmonton against the Oil Kings and Sunday against the Calgary Hitmen.

That’s the second straight Friday-Saturday-Sunday stretch the Raiders will play. In fact, they’ll do it again next weekend as well, hosting the Lethbridge Hurricanes, then the Moose Jaw Warriors before embarking on a trip to Swift Current to play the Broncos.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW