By Jeff D'Andrea

Hometown hero Lange on fire in opener as Raiders beat Blades 5-3

Sep 19, 2014 | 10:30 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders played Friday’s home game without three key 19-year-old defenceman in Josh Morrissey, Mackenze Stewart and Hunter Warner who are all off on NHL main camps.

But that didn’t stop Raiders blueliner Sawyer Lange for having one of his best games of his career.

Leading from the depleted backend, Lange had a goal and two assists to carry the Raiders to a 5-3 home opening victory Friday against the Saskatoon Blades.

When asked if there is any added pressure without the services of the three big D, especially last year’s captain in Morrissey, Lange said he feels confident even with those guys gone.

“I feel pretty comfortable right now,” said Lange, the PA-born product who received a big postgame reception in the Ches Leach Lounge. “Last year, Josh and I had a good connection last and I also played a lot with Andrlik, he’s my D partner right now.

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“I feel like I’m capable of taking more responsibility when Josh is not in the lineup. Obviously, he probably has a few more offensive abilities than I do, but I feel pretty comfortable right now.”

The game was Lange's third three-point night in his career.
 

Raiders head coach Cory Clouston was impressed with the entire team’s effort, especially his bottom-six forward units, but did note that Lange came through when the team needed him.

“We have to lean on some of those guys with experience and he played an excellent game,” said Clouston. “With those guys missing, hopefully we can get a couple back in the next couple weeks.

“We’ve said all along, we don’t know if Josh is coming back, we wish him all the best and we’ll welcome him with open arms if he returns. This is the team we have and we just have to work with these guys.”

Of course, the team doesn’t know if German phenom Leon Draisaitl will return either, as he’s sticking with the Edmonton Oilers main camp. But 18-year-old forward Reid Gardiner filled the void quite well, scoring two goals in his first game back from Minnesota Wild’s rookie camp.

“I think with (Draisaitl and Morrissey) gone and the opportunity that they won’t come back, the young guys like myself had to step up and take a bigger role upon the team,” said Gardiner. “I think a lot of guys did that. A lot of young guys had good games and lots of guys had their first games.”

Raiders rookie Dylan Stewart scored his first goal of his WHL career, in just his second career game as he appeared in a game last season. His linemates in Czech import Simon Stransky and Sean Montgomery each had their first assist in their first WHL career games and Jordan Tkatch had registered his first assist as a Prince Albert Raider.
 

Shaky start

The Raiders were down 1-0 just 14 seconds into the game as they couldn’t clear the zone. Nick Zajac potted home the goal after receiving a cross-crease feed from Cameron Hebig to give the Blades the early advantage.

However, Lange was able to tie the game up 5:36 into the first and get the amped opening day crowd back into the game.

“It was the perfect storm,” said Clouston. “We turned it over and we left the net (empty) in front and it was a good play by them. We knew it was a long game and there was time to recover.

“The attitude and resiliency they showed instead of folding, we came back even stronger and got the next one which was really important.”

Calder Brooks put the Raiders up 2-1 after the first period. Blades forward Wyatt Sloboshan tied the game up for the Blades midway through the second, before Reid Gardiner scored 50 seconds later to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead heading into the third.

Dylan Stewart and Reid Gardiner scored to give the Raiders a 5-2 lead with 12 minutes remaining, but Blades defenceman Turner Ottenbreit scored on a slap shot to make it a 5-3 game with 10 minutes left in the game.

Sloboshan got a goal and an assist in his first WHL career game and was the game’s third star. Ottenbreit got his first WHL career goal as well.

The Raiders dominated the shot clock 44-25. Trombley made 39 saves in a losing effort, while Raiders goalie Nick McBride made 22 saves for his first win of the season.

Rivalry rematch

Both teams will head to Saskatoon Saturday for a rematch. The Raiders are back in town Sept. 26 for a home game against the Regina Pats.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea