Oil Kings strike first with 5-3 win over Raiders in playoff opener
Cole Cheveldave came off the bench and gave the Raiders a chance to win before bowing 5-3 to the Oil Kings in Edmonton in the opener of their best of 7 WHL Eastern quarterfinal.
The overage netminder stopped 32 of 33 shots including a second period breakaway save off Brett Pollock and a third period skate save on a shot that totally changed direction.
The Oil Kings jumped out to a 3-1 lead 11:35 into the game on Pollock's second goal which beat starting goalie Nick McBride high short side from a sharp angle. The 16-year-old was pulled after giving up three goals on nine shots.
However Brendan Guhle's first WHL goal gave the Raiders life late in the first period as he converted a beautiful back door feed from Jayden Hart. The Raiders tied it midway through the second when Dakota Conroy swatted in a Josh Morrissey's power play rebound.