By Jeff D'Andrea

Skinner shuts out Raiders on guaranteed win night

Jan 12, 2018 | 9:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders were feeling good heading into Friday’s game against the Swift Current Broncos, going so far as to guarantee a victory over the fourth-ranked team in the CHL as part of a promotion.

Stuart Skinner decided to shut down that promotion, stopping all 29 shots he faced as his Swift Current Broncos beat the Raiders 4-0 at the Art Hauser Centre. That was Skinner’s Broncos debut, and his fifth shutout of the season.

The Raiders did have chances to beat him, especially in the third with the man advantage. The Raiders hit iron at least three times with the man advantage, especially overager Jordy Stallard, but they were unable to beat Skinner.

“Just stick to our game. We have to beat guys to pucks and win our battles and ultimately, just throw everything on net,” Stallard said. “That’s how we’re going to score.”

The Broncos were the better team in the first period, scoring a pair of goals 41 seconds apart. Broncos captain Glenn Gawdin scored the first, putting home his rebound after drawing a spectacular save from Raiders goaltender Ian Scott on a partial breakaway.

Event Centre funding

City may hire lobbyist for event centre money

6h ago

International honours

Raiders' Kubiesa to represent Czechia at IIHF U18 Men's World Championship

10h ago

Learn the signs

How often should you change your brakes?

14h ago

Kaden Elder quickly made it 2-0 after receiving a cross-ice pass from Aleksi Heponiemi.

“I thought the first ten minutes, we stood around and watched,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “In the second ten minutes, it was much better. The second period I thought was even and the third period, I thought we outplayed them. We lost the game which is disappointing but we hit three posts on the power play.”

The Raiders had a better period in the second period, but still gave up a goal to Colby Sissons to fall behind 3-0 after two periods.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Broncos, Glenn Gawdin from Aleksi Heponiemi, 8:03

Here’s Gawdin’s 1-0 goal. Scott made great save on first attempt but gets little help on the rebound pic.twitter.com/DoyjraVRKc

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 13, 2018

2-0, Broncos, Kaden Elder, 8:47

Raiders down 2-0 after the first period to the Broncos, who got their goals from Gawdin and this one from Elder pic.twitter.com/bjW4WJkjGz

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 13, 2018

Second Period

3-0, Broncos, Colby Sissons from Artyom Minulin and Glenn Gawdin, 13:23

Sissons makes it 3-0 Broncos with an accurate wrister on the blocker side pic.twitter.com/TJV67bquKe

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 13, 2018

Third Period

4-0, Broncos, Glenn Gawdin (empty net, unassisted), 17:26

Broncos 

The Broncos made a number of big time, including adding Skinner, Giorgio Estephan and Tanner Nagel on Jan. 9 from the Hurricanes. That trade involved former Prince Albert Minto forward Logan Barlage. They also added Josh Anderson from the Prince George Cougars and Andrew Fyten from the Calgary Hitmen near the deadline. 

Warriors up next

Things won’t get much easier for the Raiders this weekend. After taking on the CHL’s fourth best team in the Broncos, they’ll face the second place Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Warriors spanked the Edmonton Oil Kings 8-2.

Fans can trade in their voucher they received at the end of Friday’s game, as well as the game ticket, to the Raider office between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to exchange it for a ticket for Moose Jaw’s game.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW