Raiders on 4-game skid; lose 5-3 to Warriors

“I thought we outchanced them, even in the second period,” said Habscheid. “They had opportunities, they went in, and we had opportunities and they didn’t go in.

“But I like our game. It’s evolving and our decisions are much better. I thought for the most part, we outplayed them. They came with a push for a bit, but we got our feet underneath us. Our decision making was much better—we’re getting there.”

Habscheid’s influence on the team is starting to show as the Raiders looked a lot more in-sync than they have during the skid—but the fact the Raiders haven’t won a game since Nov. 1 is still something the team wants to change in a hurry.

“It’s definitely been frustrating,” said Raiders assistant captain Reid Gardiner, who had a goal and an assist for the Raiders. “It’s been a big adjustment period I guess with the new coach and the new systems.

“But I think we’re really improving. We’re getting a balance of being emotional and being structurally sound. I thought we did a lot of good things, we outshot them by 10 shots and I think they just capitalized on their chances and we didn’t.”

Gage Quinney scored the opening goal of the game for the Raiders, which would usually be a good thing for a hockey team, but not for the Raiders so far this season.

The Raiders are 1-6 when they’ve scored the first goal of the game and 7-7 when the opposition draws first blood.

“We have to control our momentum better, especially when playing at home and scoring first,” said Gardiner. “We have to use that as a big motivating factor.

“Whenever you score, you gain momentum so I think we have to do a better job at carrying momentum and having good two or three shifts after a goal.”

For the second straight game, Raiders captain Josh Morrissey had the game-worst plus-minus rating of -4. He’s -8 in his last two games and -12 in the month of November.

Friday’s game was also Morrissey’s fourth of the week, after playing Monday and Tuesday for Team WHL in the Subway Super Series, then Wednesday and Friday with the Raiders.

“He logs some minutes and he’s a world-class player, but you have to remember he’s only 19, too,” said Habscheid. “He has things to learn. He’s just like the rest of the guys, we just have to stay with it and help him evolve his game.”

Summary

The Warriors got two-goals and three points each from their captain Brayden Point and Tanner Eberle on their way to the victory. Jack Rodewald had three assists and was +5.

Quinney and Tim Vanstone and Gardiner all scored for the Raiders. Raiders goaltender Nick McBride made 17 saves in the loss, while Warriors goalie Justin Paulic stopped 29 pucks.

New guy

The Raiders unveiled their new mascot, Boston Raider, during the first intermission of Friday’s game. Boston is a throwback to the Raiders’ original logo.

Short-staffed

With the recent departures of Marcus Messier, Dakota Conroy and Colton McCarthy, the Raiders have just 21 players on their roster and only 11 forwards. Defenceman Mackenze Stewart continues to play on the third forward line as a left wing. The only scratch on Friday’s game was defenceman Curtis Roach.

The Raiders made it official on Thursday that Marcus Messier won’t return to the team as he’s tending to personal family matters. The Raiders put Messier on waivers on Thursday.

Buckin’ Broncos

The Raiders will head on the road on Saturday to play the Swift Current Broncos. The Broncos will return to the Art Hauser Centre on Nov. 21.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders on 4-game skid; lose 5-3 to Warriors

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