Raiders goaltender Boston Bilous dives well out of his crease to freeze a loose puck. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

The Moe you know

No Moe monkey on Spencer’s back; Raiders continue stingy D with another win

Oct 11, 2019 | 10:17 PM

A monkey had been digging into the back of Prince Albert Raiders forward Spencer Moe for the first seven games. But that monkey will need to find himself another place to perch.

Moe scored twice, including the game-winner, as the Raiders beat the high-flying Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday at the Art Hauser Centre.

“It makes me relieved. A lot of stress was building up on me, especially with the no goals in eight games,” Moe said. “I think with the two goals today, it’s put me back to where I really want to be and where I really want to start the season.”

The only other time Moe scored more than one goal in a single game came in his rookie season, when he scored twice and added an assist on Dec. 10, 2016 against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

“I was happy for him. He’s been snake bit a little bit,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “The first couple goals of the year. He’ll skate a little bit lighter tomorrow.”

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That keeps the Raiders point streak alive through eight games of the season. They’ve now acquired 14 out of a maximum of 16 points to start the year with a 6-0-2 record.

The Raiders have been able to accrue that record mainly because they’ve been able to keep the puck out of their own net. The Raiders have held opponents to two goals or less in each game they’ve played this year with one exception, the 3-2 overtime defeat to the Saskatoon Blades on opening day Sept. 20.

The Raiders were able to keep that strong defensive form, even against the likes of Hurricanes forward Dylan Cozens, who had five goals and nine points in his first four games of the year. For the first time this year, Cozens was forced off the scoresheet. The Canes also have the talents of the smooth skating Calen Addison, who was scoring a point-per-game pace as a defenceman before being left off the scoresheet on Friday.

“It’s what we’ve always relied on, it’s a team. You score as a team, you create offence as a team, you play defence as a team. We really preach that, all being on the same page,” Habscheid said. “It doesn’t matter what systems you do, but it’s real important that everyone plays together—especially defensively. When you don’t have the puck, you need everyone to commit to playing defence. Guys do a good job of that.”

Boston Bilous has obviously been a huge factor in that record. He made 32 saves on 34 shots for the victory on Friday, improving his record to 5-0-2, with a .929 save percentage and 1.53 goals against average.

Scoring Summary

Cole Fonstad had three assists in the game. Ilya Usau had a goal and an assist. Ty Nash, the son of ex-NHL’er Tyson Nash, scored his first WHL career goal for the Hurricanes.

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Spencer Moe from Ilya Usau and Kaiden Guhle, 11:28

1-1, Hurricanes, Ty Nash from Justin Hall, 13:20

Second Period

2-1, Raiders, Zack Hayes from Cole Fonstad, 16:22

Third Period

2-2, Hurricanes, Koletrane Wilson from Dino Kambeitz, 14:21

3-2, Raiders, Spencer Moe from Cole Fonstad and Jeremy Masella, 15:09

4-2, Raiders, Ilya Usau from Cole Fonstad (empty net), 19:42

WHL rule changes

The WHL put in some new rules that will be enforced immediately. To summarize, double-minor high sticking penalties will be confirmed or overturned by video reviews, and teams starting their power plays will always begin in the offensive zone, even if there was an icing on the play or not.

Raiders next opponents make history

The Raiders will play one last home game before heading off for their U.S. division road trip. They’ll take on the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre, before beginning their road swing on Oct. 19 against the Everett Silvertips.

The Warriors made a historic announcement on Friday by naming Moose Jaw’s Olivia Howe as their new coaching assistant. According to the WHL, Howe is the first woman to be named to a WHL coaching staff.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW