Raiders' goaltender Ian Scott sprawls across his crease to rob Giants' D Alex Kannok-Leipert in the third period. (Submitted photo/Rik Fedyck)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Great Scott

Superhuman Scott shuts out Giants; Raiders one win away from glory

May 9, 2019 | 12:09 AM

LANGLEY— Ian Scott was named the WHL Goaltender of the Year this year, and the Prince Albert Raiders saw every ounce of that magic and talent on Wednesday.

Scott made 36 saves as the Raiders won 1-0 over the Vancouver Giants in a crucial Game 4 Wednesday at the Langley Events Centre. Scott’s fifth shutout these playoffs – the second-most in playoff history – puts the Raiders in the driver’s seat with a 3-1 lead in the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series.

On top of the goalie of the year, Scott was also named a three-time goalie of the month, six-time goalie of the week and set five Raiders’ franchise records. He’s played hockey at an elite level all season, but he may have put together his best ever performance for Wednesday’s Game 4.

“It’s right up there,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “What’s important is that it’s a big game. It’s one thing to get a shutout against a lesser team in November on a Wednesday, but when you’re playing in the league final against a good team and your team needs you—that’s where you got to step up. That’s why he’s an elite goaltender.”

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About three minutes into the third period, it looked like a sure thing the Giants were going to take the lead. Jadon Joseph corralled a rebound on his backhand and had the short side of the net available—or so he thought.

That’s when Scott stuck out his right pad to make a mind-bending ankle save.

“Just stay with the puck, that’s pretty much the only thing,” Scott said.

Only a few short moments later, Raiders’ Brett Leason was sprung on a breakaway after a good defensive stop by the Raiders. Aliaksei Protas flipped up a jump ball for Leason, who then raced down the ice to score the first goal of the game.

“It’s definitely huge for us in a back and fourth game, you need your goalie to be there and he stepped up big. He made some big saves, especially when I got my breakaway, he made a big save to stop that and we had a quick transition” Leason, who’s riding a seven-game point streak, said. “I just skated as fast as I could to get down there. The goalie came out pretty far, figured he’d open up his blocker and that’s where I put it.”

He may have had to wait 44 minutes into the game, but Scott finally had a lead to work with. He defended the lead by flying across the crease to rob Alex Kannok-Leipert with 7:36 remaining in the game.

“I saw Bowen [Byram] come out of the corner and he made a really nice play. I just tried to get it off as quick as I could there,” Kannok-Leipert said. “He just made a good save, and got there quick enough.”

Scoring Summary

First Period

No scoring.

Second Period

No scoring.

Third Period

1-0, Raiders, Brett Leason from Aliaksei Protas, 4:21

One away

The Raiders are one win away from winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup, and they’ll have three chances to do it. Their first chance will be on Friday at the Langley Events Centre, starting at 8:30 p.m. Saskatchewan time.

Barring that, the Raiders could win it on Sunday at the Art Hauser Centre.

But barring that, the Ed Chynoweth Cup would be up for grabs on Monday at the Art Hauser Centre.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW