By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders lose special teams battle in 3rd to Pats

Jan 17, 2018 | 9:29 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders lost the specialty teams battle at crucial times against the Regina Pats on Wednesday, directly leading to their 4-3 defeat at the Art Hauser Centre.

Tied at 2-2 at the beginning of the third period, the Raiders had a two-man advantage for 1:02 and couldn’t cash in despite good chances in front. Pats’ Ryan Kubic stopped Kody McDonald from the left hash-marks with a blocker save, and while lying on his belly, robbed Brett Leason with his glove hand.

“We had two point-blank chances, so that was good, we just didn’t cash in,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “The chances were there, that’s what we wanted…Their goalie made a couple good saves.”

After the kill for the Pats, they scored goals on their next two power plays to make a 2-2 game a 4-2 game. Matt Bradley scored his second goal of the game as the go-ahead, and Jesse Gabrielle made scored the game-winning goal.

Even with Jordy Stallard’s stunning shorthanded score with five minutes remaining to make it a 4-3 game and make the Pats sweat in the game, the damage was already done.

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“I think they got a little momentum there. If we could have scored on that, that’s good for us,” Raiders forward Regan Nagy said after a two-assist effort. “But that happens. We just got to get over that and keep working hard. When we get chances like that, just capitalize on the next one.”

The Raiders remain winless against the Pats this year with a 0-3-2 record. Four of those games, including Wednesday’s contest, were one-goal games. Two ended in overtime. The Raiders sit at 16-20-6-2 on the season.

“It’s close, but they got a lot of depth and talented guys,” Habscheid said. “They get a chance and they make some real good plays. That makes a difference for them.”

Playing against his hometown team, Raiders goaltender Curtis Meger make two saves on partial breakaways on Cameron Hebig and Jesse Gabrielle. Shortly after, Raiders forward Cole Fonstad drew a penalty shot opportunity, but was stopped by Pats goaltender Ryan Kubic low on the stick side.

Jake Leschyshyn scored the Pats’ opening goal. That’s Leschyshyn’s fifth goal against the Raiders in as many games—meaning a third of his 15 goals so far this season have come against the Green and Gold.

Curtis Miske, who turned 21 on Wednesday, scored his 14th goal of the season. 

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Vojtech Budik from Curtis Miske and Regan Nagy, 5:02

Vojtech Budik gives the Raiders a 1-0 lead 5 minutes into the first, on the power play. Pats’ Gabrielle then given the ol’ mouth guard misconduct. pic.twitter.com/Sg8TjwrsRL

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 18, 2018

1-1, Pats, Jake Leschyshyn from Cameron Hebig, 19:55

Jake Leschyshyn scores his fifth goal against the Raiders in five games this year to tie the game with 4 seconds left in the period. Raiders and Pats tied at 1-1 after the first as a result pic.twitter.com/lRSORbtp4v

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 18, 2018

Second Period

2-1, Raiders, Curtis Miske from Regan Nagy, 17:47

Captain Curt restores the Raiders lead, 2-1 late in the second. pic.twitter.com/93DaTrtoJF

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 18, 2018

2-2, Pats, Matt Bradley from Logan Nijhoff, 18:12

Bradley tips one in right after Miske’s goal. It’s tied once again at 2-2 pic.twitter.com/R7uecb8x41

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 18, 2018

Third Period

3-2, Pats, Matt Bradley from Libor Hajek (power play), 5:19

Bradley gives the Pats their first lead of the game on the power play, 3-2 Pats 6 minutes into the third. Bradley then stares down the Raider bench which they don’t appreciate pic.twitter.com/xDbhsoi1GO

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 18, 2018

4-2, Pats, Jesse Gabrielle from Sam Steel and Cameron Hebig (power play), 6:54

Jesse Gabrielle makes it 4-2 on the power play as the game is starting to get away from the Raiders pic.twitter.com/Ug7IOtt272

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 18, 2018

4-3, Raiders, Jordy Stallard from Jeremy Masella (shorthanded), 15:07

Stallard, cherry picking on a penalty kill (by design of course), makes it a 4-3 game with a shorthanded breakaway goal pic.twitter.com/0MsJLgnBn0

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 18, 2018

Weekend Raiders

After a day off on Thursday, the Raiders will play three games in a row in a weekend Alberta trip, Friday against the Red Deer Rebels, Saturday against the Medicine Hat Tigers and Sunday against the Calgary Hitmen.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW