By Trevor Redden

Almeida levels series for Warriors with OT winner

Mar 24, 2018 | 11:44 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders were one goal away from coming home with a 2-0 series lead, but Justin Almeida found the overtime winner for the Moose Jaw Warriors to pull the series even at 1-1 through two games.

The Warriors jumped ahead 2-0 on a pair of goals from Brett Howden, with one coming late in the first period and the second just 11 seconds into the middle frame. Following game one where Howden and line mates Jayden Halbgewachs and Tanner Jeannot combined for just one point, the trio put up five points in the first two goals of game two.

As they’ve done many times this season, the Raiders dug in and pulled themselves back into the game midway through the second as Sean Montgomery banged home a rebound to cut the Warriors lead to one, and Vojtech Budik tied the contest at 2-2 early in the third with a power play one-timer, ultimately sending the game to overtime.

“I thought we were resilient. Moose Jaw came out in the first and they played hard, they came after us, and we kind of got our game going about midway through there, and I thought we just kind of got a little stronger as the game went on,” said Raiders Associate Coach Dave Manson.

Heading into the overtime frame after the two-goal comeback, the Raiders had every reason to feel good about the position they were in.

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“I thought our third period was pretty solid. We talked about doing things right, I thought we maybe turned the puck over a little too much, but we were able to drag it to overtime on the road, and you’ve got to be happy with that,” said Manson.

Controversy ensued in the overtime frame as the Warriors looked to be caught with too many men on the ice, with the linesman at the Warrior bench blowing the play down and making the call. After a discussion between the four officials, the decision was made to overturn the call and keep the game at even strength. Minutes later, Almeida jumped on a turnover at the Warrior line and won a footrace to the Raider goal, beating Ian Scott between the legs for the winner.

“I’m not sure what happened there in overtime, but it is what it is,” said Manson on the overturned call.

The series now shifts back to Prince Albert for games three and four at the Art Hauser Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday. After picking up a split on the road against the regular season champion Warriors, the Raiders should expect a raucous atmosphere behind them when they take the ice on Tuesday.

 “It’s going to be really good for these kids to play in front of that barn when it’s packed and noisy. There’s no better atmosphere in junior hockey so I’m looking forward to it,” said Manson.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Warriors, Brett Howden from Tanner Jeannot and Jayden Halbgewachs, 18:55

Second Period

2-0, Warriors, Brett Howden from Jayden Halbgewachs, 0:11

2-1, Raiders, Sean Montgomery from Sergei Sapego, 12:00

Third Period

2-2, Raiders, Vojtech Budik (PPG) from Curtis Miske and Regan Nagy, 4:49

Overtime

3-2, Warriors, Justin Almeida, 7:30

trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden