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Raiders G Sanders doesn’t make Alberta trip; fall to ‘Canes

Oct 6, 2017 | 9:59 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders are shorthanded in the one position you really don’t want to be—in goal.

Before the Raiders fell 4-1 to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday on the road, general manager Curtis Hunt confirmed that goaltender Nicholas Sanders was sidelined with a lower-body injury and did not travel with the team.

With Ian Scott being sidelined since the third period of the Sept. 22 home opener with a lower body injury, both of the Raiders top two goaltenders from last season are now on the injured list. Scott’s injury is listed as “indefinite” on the WHL Weekly Report. Sanders’ is considered day-to-day.

That leaves a pair of rookies in goal for the Raiders, with the emerging and eager Curtis Meger, and 16-year-old Brett Balas.

Meger made 25 saves on 28 shots (not including the empty net goal) in Friday’s contest in his second straight start and third consecutive appearance. He was awarded as the game’s second star by the Canes’ game staff, the only Raider to receive a star.

Even with the loss, Meger’s numbers are 2-1 with .910 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average.

He was busy and did his part to keep the Raiders in the contest, especially in the third period.

Meger’s counterpart Stuart Skinner was lights out for the Hurricanes, giving up just one goal in 36 Raiders’ shots.

“They’re going to depend on him this year, but he shut the door when we tested him,” Raiders associate coach Dave Manson said. “I thought we had some opportunities. Maybe we were gripping the stick a little too tight but weren’t quite ready to bear down and bury them. When you’re playing against a top level goalie like Skinner, you have to make sure you really are [ready] on your chances.”

The Enmax Centre in Lethbridge hasn’t been a fun place to go for the Prince Albert Raiders.

They’ve gone 0-4 in their last four games, with their most recent win coming on Dec. 4, 2015, a 2-0 victory.

Goals ‘n GIFs

First Period

1-0, Hurricanes, Calen Addison from Giorgio Estephan and Jordy Bellerive (5-on-3 power play), 5:02

Second Period

2-0, Hurricanes, Tanner Nagel from Dylan Cozens and Zach Franklin, 3:02

2-1, Raiders, Sean Montgomery from Curtis Miske and Devon Skoleski, 7:59

Third Period

3-1, Hurricanes, Jayden Davis (unassisted), 13:44

4-1, Hurricanes, Giorgio Estephan (empty net, unassisted), 18:27

A look ahead

The Raiders stick around in Alberta to play the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday. The Raiders beat the Tigers 4-2 in their last home game on Sept. 30.

“They’re going to be ready,” Manson said. “They’re a team that plays with pace, so if we’re not willing to move pucks and skates and great opportunities and finish opportunities, it’s going to be a tough night for us.”

The Raiders will return to the Art Hauser Centre on Oct. 13 to take on the Regina Pats, before a two-game set in Brandon to face the Wheat Kings Oct. 14-15.

 

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW