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Czech yourself before you wreck yourself; Budik scores pair to beat RD

Jan 19, 2018 | 9:49 PM

Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Vojtech Budik came to play on Friday in Red Deer.

Budik scored the Raiders’ first two goals and assisted on the third—all in the first period—which led the Raiders to a 5-1 victory over the Rebels.

Budik, the third-year import defenceman from the Czech Republic, also scored in the Raiders’ last game, the 4-3 defeat to the Regina Pats on Wednesday. That gives him three goals and four points in his last two contests after scoring just one in all of last season.

“He’s shooting the puck, that’s one thing Buds can do. He’s on that spot on the power play for that reason,” Raiders associate coach Dave Manson said. “Since he’s come back from the World Juniors, he’s been outstanding for us. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him in his full tenure as a Prince Albert Raider. I’m very happy for him that he’s getting the success he deserves.”

With the victory, that puts the Raiders up to 17-20-6-2—seven points back of the Saskatoon Blades for the second wildcard spot in the WHL Eastern Conference. The Raiders have 28 games remaining in the regular season, two more than the Blades.

“It’s huge. We’re talking about a push for the playoffs here, so the points are very, very valuable,” Manson said. “It’s a big trip for us. I thought our guys came out real hard in the first. We scored a couple early which kinda got us all into it. Then as coaches, you’re kind of leery of guys worrying about guys taking their foot off the gas. But I thought for the most part, we played pretty sound hockey.”

Ian Scott made 29 stops on 30 shots, including this gem.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Vojtech Budik from Sean Montgomery and Regan Nagy, 1:50

2-0, Raiders, Vojtech Budik from Curtis Miske and Carson Miller (power play), 11:00

3-0, Raiders, Jeremy Masella from Parker Kelly and Vojtech Budi, 16:01

Second Period

4-0, Raiders, Jordy Stallard from Parker Kelly and Kody McDonald (power play), 4:55

 

4-1, Rebels, Alexander Alexeyev from Josh Tarzwell and Reese Johnson (power play), 19:06

Third Period

5-1, Raiders, Parker Kelly (shorthanded, unassisted), 7:00

Still in Berta

The Raiders will hope to continue their winning ways in their three-in-three stretch in Alberta this weekend. They’ll take on the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday and the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday.

 

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW