By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders upset attempt falls one goal short to Warriors

Apr 3, 2018 | 11:13 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders entered the first round of the WHL playoffs against the Moose Jaw Warriors as 32-point underdogs. The Raiders, who were eight points out of a playoff spot at the beginning of February, had to go on one of their best winning streaks in team history (nine games) to earn a wildcard spot. The Warriors on the other hand, were ranked in the CHL Top 10 each and every week and on paper, were the most successful WHL team in the season.

But the Raiders pushed the Warriors to the absolute brink. Not only did they force a Game 7, but fell in the deciding game by a 5-4 margin Tuesday at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw.

The Raiders had to do a lot just to get there, and put up gutsy 5-1 and 5-4 wins in Games 5 and 6 to force the series rubber-match.

“We’re proud of them, but we still lost. There’s a lot of disappointment in that room for sure, and that’s a good thing,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “We didn’t come here to participate, we came here to win. We fell one goal short. Having said that, we’re pretty disappointed right now.”

That thought is echoed to the players, especially to captain Curtis Miske who was still wiping away tears when he took postgame interviews.

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“It’s terrible. Honestly, I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy,” Miske said about the sharp feeling of defeat. “But I had a ton of awesome memories that I’ll take with me and awesome friendships that will last me for a lifetime. I’m very thankful for the [Spokane] Chiefs and the Raiders, especially, for giving me a chance to play in this league.”

Miske was one of three Raiders who played their last WHL career game Tuesday, the others being fellow overagers Jordy Stallard and Regan Nagy. The three 20-year-olds were the last to leave the ice, as they made sure they gave each of their teammates an embrace before heading to the dressing rooms.

“[The team] is as tight as you can get. We have been together for eight months now, hanging out every day and those are two of my best friends that I will keep with me for the rest of my life,” said Miske, who led the Raiders with 10 points in seven games. “They know what I am going through and it sucks. I am just glad we made those best friendships.”

For the Warriors, if they didn’t have the respect of the Raiders heading into the series, they certainly do now according to their head coach Tim Hunter.

“It was a big relief [to win], we’re afraid of that team,” Hunter said. “They’re a good team. They played hard, they’re well coached. Marc did a great job with them and Dave [Manson] with their defence, getting them ready to play… Until our players really became afraid of them, they were in the series and we were in trouble. We played our best game tonight, we hadn’t played our best game until this point.”

The Raiders stormed out to a 2-0 lead after the opening 5:59. Justin Nachbaur scored just 1:28 in, and Parker Kelly added to the tally after Sean Montgomery created a turnover in the Warriors’ zone.

The energy was sucked out of Mosaic Place, but the Warriors were able to tie the game less than two minutes later. Jayden Halbgewachs scored his second of the series after going the first five games of the series without a goal on a rebound. Then 25 seconds later, Raiders defenceman Vojtech Budik tried to clear but it went off Warriors forward Ryan Peckford, then off the knee of Raiders’ Montgomery and into the net.

Parker Kelly was able to restore the Raiders’ lead with his second of the game, beating Warriors defender Kale Clague for speed on the outside and jamming one in point blank. The net was knocked off its moorings, but the goal was called good after a video review.

The Warriors had a review take one of their goals back, as Ryan Peckford’s tip was ruled to have been over the crossbar. But the Warriors were able to tie it up anyway, with Justin Almeida getting his fourth of the series. Raiders captain Curtis Miske had his stick upended after a collision in front of the net from Warriors’ captain Brett Howden and argued the call to no avail.

Justin Almeida put the Warriors ahead with his second power play goal of the contest midway through the third period.

The Raiders scored a shorthanded goal as Miske found defenceman Brayden Pachal with just 4:20 remaining in the contest to tie the game at 4-4. But Burke, who was dangerous all series, got the game winner just 30 seconds later on the same power play through a screen. Burke finished the series with six goals and 14 points in seven games.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Justin Nachbaur from Zack Hayes and Regan Nagy, 1:28

2-0, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Sean Montgomery, 5:59

2-1, Warriors, Jayden Halbgewachs from Kale Clague and Tanner Jeannot, 7:23

2-2, Warriors, Ryan Peckford (unassisted), 7:48

3-2, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Brayden Pachal, 11:38

Second Period

3-3, Warriors, Justin Almeida from Brayden Burke and Kale Clague, (power play), 18:09

Third Period

4-3, Warriors, Justin Almeida from Brayden Burke and Kale Clague, (power play), 11:01

4-4, Raiders, Brayden Pachal from Curtis Miske (shorthanded), 15:40

5-4, Warriors, Brayden Burke from Kale Clague and Brett Howden (power play), 16:10

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca    

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW