By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders snap 5-game skid with big 4-2 win over Rebels

Oct 18, 2014 | 10:11 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders entered the third period against the Red Deer Rebels Saturday in danger of losing their sixth straight game and having their record fall to 3-7 to start the year.

They were down 1-0 after 40 minutes despite a plethora of chances, especially in the second period. Craig Leverton had a wide open net but couldn’t reach a bouncing puck, and defenceman Sawyer Lange hit both posts with the same wrist shot.

But instead of folding, the Raiders responded in the third with one of their best periods of the year, scoring four goals and winning 4-2 at the Art Hauser Centre. In the process, they snapped a five-game skid dating back to Oct. 3.

“It’s easy to get frustrated, we probably should have had three or four goals at least going into the third period,” said Raiders head coach Cory Clouston. “We had a couple wide open nets, we had a double-post.

“Credit to the guys for not caving, they stuck with it and got rewarded for it.”

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In the first ten minutes of the final frame, Craig Leverton scored on a 5-on-3 power play in the opening followed quickly by a jam goal Jayden Hart and Matteo Gennaro wrist shot to make it 3-1.

Rebels defenceman Haydn Fleury would make it a tight 3-2 game before Reid Gardiner would finish them off with a goal of his own to make it 4-2.

Gennaro’s goal would end up being the game-winner, which should be a huge boost to his confidence.

Gennaro, the draft eligible 17-year-old centreman, went the first nine games of the season without a point, but finally broke the streak with a far-side snipe job on Rebels goalie Rylan Toth.

“It was nice for me,” said Gennaro. “I had my confidence a little bit lower, you know. I feel like I can contribute offensively, and it was tough for the first nine or ten games contributing that way.

“I felt I was playing good hockey and I was having lots of chances. It was nice to finally get that one.”

The All-Sask All-Stars line of Gardiner (Humboldt), Leverton (Debden), Tkatch (Prud’homme) has been absolutely massive for the Raiders. They have contributed for 51.9 per cent of the Raiders’ goals this season, scoring a combined 14 out of the Raiders’ 27.

Gardiner has seven of those goals himself to lead the team and has a four-game goal streak alive.

Despite two games this season, the All-Sask line has been together ever since the preseason, even a bit during training camp. Gardiner said that could be a factor as to the chemistry they’ve created for themselves.

“From training camp to preseason to regular season, we’ve had a lot of chemistry,” said Gardiner. “I wouldn’t say we’re the fastest guys, but we’re smart players and we work hard. We like to pride ourselves on our work ethic and make the right plays at the right times.

“We’re all kind of Saskatchewan, we all played against each other growing up. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it or not. It’s kind of a weird thing I guess, but we’re all getting along and playing as a three-man unit.”

Big Mack ordered up

For the first time this year, Raiders hulking defenceman Mackenze Stewart was moved up to play with the forwards. He suited up as a left winger on the fourth line with Dylan Stewart and Sean Montgomery.

In the first period, Stewart went toe-to-toe with Rebels forward Devan Fafard.

Sitting in his stead was Czech import Simon Stransky.

Still time left in homestand

The Raiders still have three home games left in their five game homestand. The Raiders will host the Kootenay Ice on Tuesday, before battling against the Portland Winterhawks and the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday and Saturday respectively.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea