By Jeff D'Andrea

Five alive; Raiders win 5-1 to force Game 6 in P.A.

Mar 31, 2018 | 10:34 PM

There will be a Game 6 at the Art Hauser Centre.

The Prince Albert Raiders were able to force it after a huge 5-1 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors, drawing the first round playoff series to a 3-2 Warriors’ lead. That game will start at 6 p.m. at the Hauser. According to some, they didn’t think that game would happen. 

“They taunted us and they said we were done,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “They said we were finished, but we’re not finished. They’re going to have to drive to P.A. tomorrow and play us. That’s the way it is.”

Sean Montgomery was a huge reason why, as he scored twice in the game to lift the Raiders to victory. He’s tied for the Raiders’ lead in goals now with Jordy Stallard, and the series lead along with Warriors forward Justin Almeida, Brayden Burke and Brett Howden.

But as important as Montgomery’s goals were in a crucial, do-or-die Game 5, Montgomery was more interested in discussing Game 6.

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“It’s definitely nice but now we just have to move on and focus on tomorrow,” Montgomery said. “It should be an unreal atmosphere in P.A. So we’re definitely looking forward to it.”

“We’re happy for him,” Habscheid said of his veteran forward, one of four players to have played in the 2016 playoff series against the Warriors. “He’s a big part of our team, quiet leader, plays the right way and was a big part of the win tonight.”

The Raiders had to kill off a double-minor for high sticking after P.A. defender Max Martin clipped Vince Loschiavo up high and drew blood. The Raiders not only killed it off, but had two breakaways themselves from Regan Nagy—the second of which drew a penalty from Warriors powerforward Tanner Jeannot.

The Raiders seemed to gain energy from that, getting their first goal of the contest from Montgomery, his second of the series.

With 1:53 left in the frame, Raiders veteran Parker Kelly broke his goose egg and got his first playoff goal, a tip from a Brayden Pachal point shot.

“It’s been a bit of a slump I guess, the boys were grinding me about it,” Kelly said. “It’s nice to get it out of the way, but it’s a little thing. I’m not thinking too much about it. 

“Our backs were against the wall, we were just trying to bring it back to P.A.,” Kelly added. “We’re probably going to win there, it’s a tough building to play in. I see us coming back here on Tuesday [for Game 7]. It should be a good one.”

There was a little controversy in the second period, but this time at the expense of the Warriors. Raiders defenceman Brayden Pachal collided with Warriors defenceman Josh Brook, making principal contact with Brook’s knee. The officials did not make a signal on the play, and after a conference, decided to play on without penalty. Brook returned to the third period but was noticeably favouring his leg.

Shortly later, Warriors forward Branden Klatt took a boarding minor on Brett Leason, opening up for Max Martin to put the Raiders up 3-1, 13 minutes into the sandwich stanza. Justin Almeida scored the lone goal for the Warriors in the game, making it 3-1 heading into the third.

Montgomery scored his second of the game to start the third period, before Curtis Miske added his second of the series on the power play midway through the third. Miske’s goal chased Warriors goaltender Brody Willms, who was pulled for the second time of the series. He surrendered five goals on 22 shots, giving way to Adam Evanoff for the final nine minutes of the game.

Miske’s goal, as was Montgomery’s, was on the low blocker side, something the Raiders have figured out thanks to some pre-series research.

“Our goaltending consultant Kelly Guard did a little scouting report on him, he showed that 40 per cent [of goals] I think it was go low blocker,” Parker Kelly said. “All the boys have been finding it well. Miske and all those guys are finding the holes. Hopefully, we can keep it going and that will be a part in our next two wins.”

Ian Scott made 31 saves on 32 shots for the Raiders.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Sean Montgomery from Justin Nachbaur, 10:56

2-0, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Brayden Pachal and Brett Leason, 18:07

Second Period

3-0, Raiders, Max Martin from Jordy Stallard and Kody McDonald (power play), 13:27

3-1, Warriors, Justin Almeida from Brayden Burke and Brandon Schuldhaus, 14:25

Third Period

4-1, Raiders, Sean Montgomery from Jeremy Masella, 4:15

5-1, Raiders, Curtis Miske from Vojtech Budik and Brett Leason, 11:01

Jeff.dandrea@Jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW