Raiders rebound to rattle red-hot Warriors

In terms of motivating themselves each game, Habscheid leaves a lot of that to the players themselves, especially their leadership group of captain Brayden Pachal and his assistants in Sean Montgomery, Parker Kelly and Zack Hayes.

When asked what that process is like, Montgomery said that each player in the captain’s group goes about guiding the room in his own way.

“I think each of us four does it a little differently,” Montgomery said. “Pachal and Kelly are more vocal guys in the room. I think me and Hayzer lead more by example. We build off each other, that’s how we try and lead.”

Raiders breakout star Brett Leason scored the game winner with 2:25 remaining in the game. Noah Gregor was in on a breakaway, but stopped by Warriors tender Brodan Salmond. Gregor however, retrieved the puck in the corner and kept the play alive, gave it to Parker Kelly, who found Leason out front for the winner.

“Obviously it was the big turning point,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “Gregs got out there and got on the breakaway, but the goalie made a big save. Sometimes that deflates you and they come out of the zone real quick, but our guys didn’t miss a beat. They jumped on the rebound, kept the puck alive and the goal was produced off of that.”

For Leason, that goal snapped his four-game goalless streak. He has 32 goals and 75 points in 43 games, along with 219 shots on goal.

The Raiders carried most of the play 5-on-5, but once a penalty was taken, the Warriors took complete advantage. They scored all three of their goals with the man-advantage on five attempts, while going 6-6 with the kill on the Raiders. The Raiders have now scored just twice in their last 26 power play attempts.

“5-on-5, I didn’t think it was close,” Habscheid said. “Obviously, they won the special teams battles. Their power play was clicking and ours wasn’t. That made the game close. But 5-on-5, I thought it wasn’t close.”

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Cole Fonstad from Dante Hannoun and Zack Hayes, 4:34

1-1, Warriors, Josh Brook from Justin Almeida and Jett Woo, 19:40

Second Period

2-1, Raiders, Sean Montgomery from Brayden Pachal and Cole Fonstad, 4:50

2-2, Warriors, Brayden Tracey from Josh Brook and Jett Woo (power play), 15:31

3-2, Raiders, Kaiden Guhle from Aliaksei Protas and Max Martin, 16:04

Third Period

3-3, Warriors, Justin Almeida from Dalton Hamliuk and Jett Woo (power play), 15:45

4-3, Raiders, Brett Leason from Parker Kelly and Noah Gregor, 17:35

Milestones afoot

The next time Raiders Dante Hannoun and Sean Montgomery take to the ice, they will reach big career milestones.

Hannoun will play in his 300^th career game, while Montgomery is on the verge of breaking a Raiders franchise record. Montgomery could tie the P.A. games played record of 330 set by Brett Novak, on Monday against the Edmonton Oil Kings, and break it in his hometown on Friday against the Calgary Hitmen.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders rebound to rattle red-hot Warriors

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