Raiders goaltender Ian Scott peaks around the screen from Hurricanes forward Taylor Ross. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders Still Looking for the big 50

Raiders still looking for 50th win after OT loss to ‘Canes

Feb 27, 2019 | 10:29 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders will be stuck on 49 wins on the season for at least two more days as they fell 5-4 in overtime to the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre.

With the Raiders’ record of 49-8-2-2, the Raiders have already clinched first place in the WHL Eastern Conference, and are two points away from outright clinching first place in the league.

The Raiders had a 4-3 lead with over eight minutes remaining. But Jake Elmer rescued the game for the Hurricanes. With 2:17 left, Elmer slid over to the slot untouched to tie the game up and increase his goal-scoring streak to 10 games.

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Then just 20 seconds into overtime after Raiders forward Sean Montgomery fell at the Hurricanes’ blueline, the Hurricanes were sprung on a 2-on-1 with red hot Elmer and Dylan Cozens, who had two goals in regulation. Elmer kept the puck and sniped for the Hurricanes’ victory. That’s their only win in four games against the Raiders this year.

Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said he wasn’t disappointed in the game or the effort, but did highlight a few areas to clean up.

“I thought it was a well-played game, it was a good game,” Habscheid said. “We took a couple penalties too many, we had a turnover on the [winning] goal at the blue line. It’s just playoff hockey. That shouldn’t happen from older guys, for sure.”

The one thing the Raiders were very happy with was their goal output. Cole Fonstad had a huge part of that as he was in on three of the Raiders’ four goals. He scored one and set up two. That gives Fonstad seven points in his last two games, and has really clicked recently alongside overager Noah Gregor and rookie standout Ozzy Wiesblatt.

“Just clicking right now,” Fonstad said. When you’re on a role, you just stick to your routine and hopefully keep it going. That’s what’s been happening here, and good chemistry with my linemates.”

The Raiders’ power play has heated up of late as well. They were 2-5 on the power play, and have scored at least one goal with the man-advantage in nine of their last 10 games—going 12-30 in that span. The Raiders were also a perfect 5-5 against the lethal Hurricanes’ power play, who are ranked third in the WHL.

Herman’s debut

Just one day after signing with the Raiders on Tuesday, Evan Herman was thrust into the Raiders’ lineup on Wednesday to make his WHL debut. Herman was a third round selection by the Raiders in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. He has 13 goals and 26 points with Rink Academy Prep in the CSSHL, and five goals and seven points in seven games with the OCN Blizzard in the MJHL.

“Obviously, there’s nerves but that’s something you have to battle through,” Herman said. “I expected it to be fast with big bodies out there and tough battles. Obviously it’s not the result we wanted, but that’s the way it goes.”

Herman’s quick addition was necessary after Raider winger Parker Kelly was levied a three-game suspension.

Kelly received the ban on Saturday, resulting from a major boarding penalty late in the game on Marcus Sekundiak in a 7-1 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. It’s Kelly’s third suspension of his career, and first one to last more than one game.

Raiders defenceman Max Martin also missed Wednesday’s game, his fourth straight to an upper-body injury. Habscheid said that Martin is day-to-day and they’ll keep evaluating him until he’s cleared to get back into the lineup.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Hurricanes, Dylan Cozens from Nick Henry, 11:09

2-0, Hurricanes, Logan Barlage from Jordy Bellerive, 11:22

2-1, Raiders, Cole Fonstad from Kaiden Guhle (power play), 15:03

Second Period

2-2, Raiders, Justin Nachbaur from Cole Fonstad and Brett Leason (power play), 3:37

3-2, Hurricanes, Dylan Cozens from Jake Elmer and Igor Merezhko, 4:48

3-3, Raiders, Spencer Moe from Loeden Schaufler and Brett Leason, 11:56

Third Period

4-3, Raiders, Kaiden Guhle from Cole Fonstad and Spencer Moe, 10:45

4-4, Hurricanes, Jake Elmer from Dylan Cozens, 17:43

Overtime

5-4, Hurricanes, Jake Elmer (unassisted), 0:20

Wrapping up the home-stand

The Raiders will finish up their five-game home-stand on Friday when they face the Red Deer Rebels at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders will then head to Moose Jaw to face the Warriors on Saturday, before two homers next week against the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday and Friday.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW