Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Raiders’ Stallard with a Jaw dropping performance

Jan 13, 2018 | 9:21 PM

The Moose Jaw Warriors came in to Saturday’s game against the Prince Albert Raiders as the second ranked team in the CHL. They added elite defenceman Kale Clague, were on an eight-game winning streak and came off an 8-2 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings from the night before.

None of that mattered as the Raiders upset the Warriors 4-3. 

Raiders assistant captain Jordy Stallard led the way for the Raiders, scoring twice and added an assist on Kody McDonald’s game winning goal in the third period.

What impressed Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid as much as Stallard’s point production was his heart he showed at the end of the game. As the Raiders were holding on to their 4-3 lead as the Warriors were pushing to tie the game, Kale Clague found himself at the high slot but Stallard dove in front to block the shot.

“Stallard was incredible tonight,” Habscheid said. “He made some great plays offensively and to have a goal-scorer, skilled guy go down and put his body on the line when we needed him to, it says a lot about his character. It just proves he’s a winner.”

“We knew they were going to try and throw everything at the net,” Stallard said. “Dying seconds like that in such a big game like this, we’ll do pretty much everything to win. I just tried to get in front of the puck—he got me good.”

After Friday’s 4-0 defeat to the Swift Current Broncos, Stallard said felt he didn’t play his best game. 

“I thought I played a lot better than I did last night. Me and Habby had a meeting, I needed to step my game up as a 20-year-old, as a leader in the room,” Stallard said. “I need to keep up my consistency now and chip in any way I can help the team.”

The Raiders have now beaten the Warriors in their last two meetings, and both of those were netminded by backup Curtis Meger. Meger made 19 saves in Saturday’s victory, and 31 saves on Nov. 29 in the Raiders’ 3-2 shootout win in Moose Jaw.

“He was good. There was probably a goal he wanted back but he made some saves too,” Habscheid said. “He beat them last time and he beat them again. When we play Moose Jaw again, odds are he’ll be in the net again.”

Meger said he thrives on stepping up against a highly ranked team like the Warriors.

“You know they’re coming fast,” Meger said. “They’re a good quality hockey team that’s ranked in the top 10, obviously, so we know coming in we have to play good. I think that travels to me, too. I have to be steady back there to give the guys confidence and tonight, I think I did that.”

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Jordy Stallard from Curtis Miske and Jeremy Masella, 15:36

Second Period

1-1, Warriors, Ryan Peckford from Kale Clague and Josh Brook, 1:29

2-1, Raiders, Curtis Miske from Regan Nagy and Spencer Moe (power play), 13:41

2-2, Warriors, Justin Almeida from Brett Howden and Brayden Burke, 15:38

3-2, Raiders, Jordy Stallard from Curtis Miske

Third Period

4-2, Raiders, Kody McDonald from Jordy Stallard and Cole Fonstad (power play), 7:55

4-3, Warriors, Jett Woo from Brayden Burke, 18:38

Pats again

For the fourth time since Dec. 30, the Raiders will take on the Regina Pats, on Wednesday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders are 0-2-2 against the Pats in four games played this year.

The Raiders will then embark on a three-game trip Alberta on the weekend to face the Red Deer Rebels on Friday, the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday and the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday.

 

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW