By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders’ Fonstad with new confidence; P.A. dethrones the Oil Kings

Jan 27, 2018 | 9:18 PM

Cole Fonstad had an event filled three days.

On Thursday, he came the first Prince Albert Raider to score at the Top Prospects Game in the past 17 years, in Guelph, Ont. Then on Friday, he rushed back to the Art Hauser Centre just in time to score a goal in the Raiders’ 6-2 win over the Prince George Cougars.

Then on Saturday, Fonstad rattled off two more goals and a helper in the 9-2 over the Edmonton Oil Kings.

“It was huge. The last 10 games before I went there, I don’t think I was myself,” the sophomore sniper Fonstad said. “I was lacking confidence and wasn’t where I need to be to help this team be successful. I think going there, I got all my confidence back. I realize the level I need to be at.”

Fonstad now has 15 goals and 51 points in 49 games this season, and three goals and a helper since his return from the Top Prospects Game. Fonstad rejuvenation hasn’t gone unnoticed by his team.

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“You can see, he’s playing with a lot more confidence since he came back,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “You don’t know how you match up, you never do until you’re on the same ice as those guys and obviously he matched up pretty good out there. That gives him more confidence coming back. He’s been a better player for us since.”

The win evens the Raiders’ record at 20-20-7-2. The Raiders remain four points back of the Saskatoon Blades for the second wildcard spot, as the Blades beat the Prince George Cougars 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night.

The Raiders’ nine-goal output was the most they’ve scored in a single game since March 4, 2014 when they beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 9-2.

Big time milestones

With one flick of the wrist, Prince Albert Raiders forward Parker Kelly reached a pair of Western Hockey League career milestones.

In the first period, Kelly scored on a 3-on-1 rush to not only give him his 50^th career goal, but also his 100^th career point.

“It’s kind of flying by for how long I’ve been in the league now,” Kelly said, who played in his 188^th game with the Raiders on Saturday. “It’s just a little thing, but it’s a nice feather in the cap.”

Then with 1:27 left on the clock, Nikita Krivokrasov sniped home his first WHL career goal in his 38^th game. Eric Pearce, who set up Krivokrasov in front of the net, also got his first career assist on the play.

When Krivokrasov went off the ice for a change, assistant captain Brayden Pachal came all the way across the bench to congratulate him and the rest of the Raiders followed suit.

“Obviously the goal is amazing, but at the end of the day, it’s a team effort,” Krivokrasov said. “They help me out, and I couldn’t ask for more, so I said thanks to the boys. It was awesome to have that experience. Hopefully, there are many more to come.”

Krivokrasov almost didn’t play on Saturday—he would have given way for 20-year-old Regan Nagy, who was a game-time decision with a lower-body injury. Nagy took warm ups but did not participate in the game.

Last Saturday, Nagy fell awkwardly against the Medicine Hat Tigers and was originally listed on the “indefinite” injury list this week. Habscheid upgraded his status to “day-to-day” status on Thursday and said Nagy is “really close” to returning to game action.

Want to see some highlights?

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Cole Fonstad from Brayden Pachal and Jordy Stallard, 9:25

Parker Kelly hits two different milestones with this goal, that’s his 50th WHL career goal and his 100th WHL career point. It’s 2-0 Raiders at the radio timeout in the first period pic.twitter.com/XfbQVgEm3p

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

2-0, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Spencer Moe and Vojtech Budik, 10:12

Parker Kelly hits two different milestones with this goal, that’s his 50th WHL career goal and his 100th WHL career point. It’s 2-0 Raiders at the radio timeout in the first period pic.twitter.com/XfbQVgEm3p

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

Second Period

2-1, Oil Kings, Trey Fix-Wolansky from Tomas Soustal, 0:28

Weird one here as Fix-Wolansky’s shot goes off of Pachal’s skate and in. Just the Oil Kings’ second shot on goal, but Raiders now lead by just 2-1 to begin second pic.twitter.com/dPI0MovOrY

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

3-1, Raiders, Cole Fonstad from Vojtech Budik, 4:38

Fonstad with his second goal of the game. If you count the Top Prospects Game, that’s his 4th goal in his last 5 periods of play. 3-1 Raiders lead in 2nd pic.twitter.com/VxSJ3HZenZ

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

4-1, Raiders, Vojtech Budik from Curtis Miske, 9:23

Fix-Wolansky, the former Raiders listed player, gets his second of the game and it’s 4-2 with 52.2 seconds left in the second period. Huge turnover/breakdown in front of the Raiders’ net. pic.twitter.com/nxjAfU1wtP

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

4-2, Oil Kings, Trey Fix-Wolansky from Tomas Soustal, 19:07

Fix-Wolansky, the former Raiders listed player, gets his second of the game and it’s 4-2 with 52.2 seconds left in the second period. Huge turnover/breakdown in front of the Raiders’ net. pic.twitter.com/nxjAfU1wtP

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

Third Period

5-2, Raiders, Kody McDonald from Cole Fonstad, 0:42

Kody McLovin’ McDonald puts the Raiders up 5-2 to start the third period. Fonstad with an assist, he now has 3 points tonight pic.twitter.com/0r7a4aDgRl

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

6-2, Raiders, Kody McDonald from Brayden Pachal and Zack Hayes, 4:00

He’s really Lovin’ It. A picture perfect shot for McDonald after his monster night last night and it’s 6-2. Pachal with the long stretch pass pic.twitter.com/jnFN9pxGeQ

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

7-2, Raiders, Justin Nachbaur from Brett Leason and Vojtech Budik, 5:40

And ‘Runaround Sue’ is on repeat here at the Art Hauser Centre. Justin Nachbaur makes it 7-2 Raiders pic.twitter.com/Z3ECLfwVrG

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

8-2, Raiders, Zack Hayes from Justin Nachbaur and Max Martin, 8:37

Hayeser with a laser. It’s 8-2 now. pic.twitter.com/FJBzDpPKq1

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

9-2, Raiders, Nikita Krivokrasov from Eric Pearce and Max Martin, 18:33

Nikita Krivokrasov scores his first WHL career goal and he’s quite fired up about it. It’s 9-2 pic.twitter.com/C93CNan9Rp

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 28, 2018

More home-sticking

The Raiders are currently halfway through their four-game homestand at the Art Hauser Centre. They’ll wrap that up on Tuesday against the Red Deer Rebels and on Friday against the Saskatoon Blades. The Raiders will go back on the road on Saturday to play the Regina Pats.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW