By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders score twice in first minute in 5-1 win over MJ

Dec 17, 2014 | 9:13 PM

It didn’t take the Prince Albert Raiders too long to get all warm and cozy back at home.

After a seven-game road trip, the Raiders scored twice in the opening minute against the Moose Jaw Warriors to go on and win 5-1 Wednesday at the Art Hauser Centre. The win snapped a 0-4-1 skid for the Raiders as they head into the holiday break with a smile on their face.

Raiders forward Simon Stransky scored just 46 seconds into the game on the power play, then linemate Reid Gardiner potted a rebound goal just 10 seconds later to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead in the first minute. As a matter of fact, Stransky and Gardiner each had two points in the opening 60 seconds of the game.

“I think it’s a good present for Christmas,” said Stransky, who doesn’t turn 17 years old until Dec. 21. “It’s a big two points. Moose Jaw is a pretty good team, so it’s a big win for us.

“It was crazy (scoring two points) in the first 50 seconds or something—it’s the first time in my life.”

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Stransky is really heating up for the Raiders. He now has three goals and five points in his last three games, and has back-to-back, multi-point nights.

The coaching change the Raiders made this season could be a big reason for his uptick in production. Under former Raiders head coach Cory Clouston, Stransky had one goal and four points in 14 games. In the 20 games since under current head coach Marc Habscheid (including one game under interim head coach Dave Manson), Stransky is almost scoring at a point-per-game pace with 18 points.

“(Habscheid’s) been very helpful because he give me a very big opportunity,” said Stransky, who played on a line with Reid Gardiner and Jordan Tkatch. “I’m very happy he’s here, it’s good for me.”

Not only is Habscheid giving Stransky a chance to blossom in the top-six, but he’s given Stransky the freedom to create offensively.

“He’s just a real talented guy, he’s got offensive instincts you can’t teach,” said Habscheid. “You just kind of let him play.

“He’s a real good guy and he works hard, good teammate, guys like him and he’s just got a natural ability.”

After all the changes that have happened to the Raiders in the past few weeks, their roster looks a lot different.

So does their power play as it’s gotten a complete redesign. Gardiner has been moved back to the point on the first power play unit, along with newcomer 19-year-old Jesse Lees. Both were very effective back there, as Gardiner had two points and Lees had two power play assists in the game.

“It’s been lots to learn I guess, playing that position but Marc and (associate coach Dave Manson) have been really good teaching me the little things and Jesse’s really easy to play with,” said Gardiner. “I think we moved the puck well as a tandem and hopefully it continues.”

Summary

All the offence in the first period was scored in the opening 56 seconds with goals from Stransky and Gardiner. Jayden Hart made it 3-0 with 32 seconds into the second period on the power play.

Jaimen Yakubowski scored the lone Warriors’ goal 11 minutes into the second period to make it a 3-1 game.

Raiders forward Cory Millette scored on a rebound goal late in the second, and Tim Vanstone made it 5-1 midway through the third period.

Raiders goaltender Rylan Parenteau made 25 saves in the game for the win. He’s been excellent for the Raiders lately, posting an 8-2-1 record in his last 11 starts.

Fireworks to end it

With 33.3 seconds left, tempers started to boil as the game ended with a line brawl. All 10 players involved were given five minute fighting majors, and game misconducts. There were two fights in the third period previous to the brawl, between Tomas Andrlik-Tanner Eberle, and Dylan Stewart-Blake Bargar.

McBride time at Top Prospects

Raiders goaltender Nick McBride will head to St. Catherine’s, Ont., Jan. 22 for the BMO Top Prospects Game. McBride is the lone WHL goaltender named in the game, and will be playing for Team Orr.

Nobody had to call McBride to tell him the news, he found out quickly after checking his social media pages.

“I actually found out on Twitter,” said McBride. “I was quite happily surprised.

“It’s a great honour and I’m so excited. I’ll have to wait another month for it—I can’t wait.”

McBride was the 23^rd overall pick in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. He has a .893 save percentage and 3.36 goals against average this season.

Last year, 17 players that participated in the 2014 Top Prospects Game were selected in the first round.

Turkey time

Wednesday’s game is the Raiders’ last until the holiday break. Their next action will be Dec. 27 against the Saskatoon Blades at the Art Hauser Centre.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea