Raiders forward Ilya Usau has been one of the biggest point producers for the team this preseason, despite new to the team. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Usau comes clutch in the shootout

Raiders pull win out of the fire against Tri-City

Oct 25, 2019 | 11:31 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders pulled one out of the fire in Kennewick, Wash., to pick up their first victory on the U.S. Division road trip—a 3-2 shootout win over the Tri-City Americans.

That improves the Raiders’ record to 1-2-1 on the road swing, and 8-2-3 on the year. The Americans are an even 6-6 so far through 12 games.

Despite outshooting the Americans 17-5 in the third period, Americans forward Sasha Mutala scored with 6:51 remaining in the game to put the patriotic hosts up 2-1. The Raiders needed the extra attacker in the final minute to get the equalizer, with Aliaksei Protas finding it with 54.8 seconds left to force overtime.

Raiders assistant coach Jeff Truitt said there didn’t seem to be any sense of panic or despair after Mutala’s goal, or the fact Americans goaltender Beck Warm was standing on his head making 45 saves on 47 shots.

“There was just a lot of, ‘we got to get the next one,’” Truitt said. “We had a flurry down here in the third period, they get the puck, it comes down into our zone and winds up going into the net. We had it the majority of the time, but there was no panic by the guys. They understand. Our veteran guys stood up and said ‘we’ve been here before.’ And we have.”

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After a scoreless extra frame, Raiders forward Ilya Usau was the only player to score in the three-round shootout, beating Warm five-hole. Out of 11 WHL career shootouts, that’s only Warm’s second shootout defeat.

That was the Raiders’ first appearance in the shootout thus far this season, despite having played past the 60 regulation minutes five times already. That’s tied for the WHL lead in overtime appearances, matching the Swift Current Broncos.

Tyson Laventure opened the scoring for the Raiders, scoring his second career WHL goal. He got his first on Wednesday in the final seconds of Wednesday’s 4-3 defeat to the Portland Winterhawks.

“It’s awesome for these young guys. For Tyson, he gets himself around the net and anything’s going to happen, it usually does. Those guys that go to that red zone, that slot area, usually come up with the goals. You’re not going to beat goaltenders from outside the dots anymore if you don’t have traffic, but it’s good to see the inside game going for a young guy. He’s going to bully himself in there and finish for us.”

Laventure’s goal was also the first time the Raiders scored a game’s opening goal since Oct. 11 in a 4-2 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Scoring Summary

First Period

No scoring.

Second Period

1-0, Raiders, Tyson Laventure from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Jeremy Masella, 7:52

1-1, Americans, Kyle Olson from Sasha Mutala and Samuel Huo (power play), 10:43

Third Period

2-1, Americans, Sasha Mutala from Mitchell Brown and Tyson Greenway, 13:09

2-2, Raiders, Aliaksei Protas from Brayden Watts, 19:05

Overtime

No scoring.

Shootout

Shootout winner, Ilya Usau on Beck Warm

The last time these teams met…

This happened.

Raiders goaltender Ian Scott scored a goal to seal a 3-1 win over the Americans on Nov. 16, 2018 at the Art Hauser Centre.

WHL Cup

Graydon Gotaas and Team Alberta finished the group stages of the WHL Cup 3-0, after defeating Niall Crocker and Team B.C. 2-1 on Friday in Calgary. That was B.C.’s only loss in three games.

Raider prospect Bryce Warkentine and Team Manitoba picked up their first win of the WHL Cup on Friday, a 4-3 win over Tre Fouquette and Team Saskatchewan. Manitoba finished the group stages 1-2, Saskatchewan was 0-3.

Finishing it up

The Raiders are playing their final game of their U.S. Division road trip on Saturday, when they take on the Spokane Chiefs. The Raiders next play at the Art Hauser Centre on Nov. 1, facing off against the Regina Pats.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW