Raiders forward Ozzy Wiesblatt scored the OT winner and the tying goal for the Raiders in their 2-1 OT win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Friday. File photo/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

The Blizzard of Ozz

Crazy Train off the tracks in Edmonton as Wiesblatt scores OT winner, Paddock stands on head

Jan 17, 2020 | 11:02 PM

Fresh off his Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game appearance in Hamilton, Ont., the night before, Ozzy Wiesblatt had himself a night when he returned to the Prince Albert Raiders 24 hours later.

The prince of darkness himself scored the overtime winner and the third-period tying goal in the Raiders’ 2-1 win over the first place Edmonton Oil Kings Friday night at Rogers Place. The win improves the Raiders record to 23-14-5-2 on the season, and improves their points streak to five games (3-0-1-1). The Oil Kings gain a point and go to 29-7-6-3.

On the overtime winner, Wiesblatt punched in a rebound from fellow-Top Prospect teammate Kaiden Guhle, to secure the win for the Raiders. That’s his second overtime winner of the year, with the other coming on Nov. 17 in a 5-4 OT win over his hometown Calgary Hitmen.

The Oil Kings got the lead in the first period on Dylan Guenther’s goal, and held that lead late in the third period. Wiesblatt got the tying goal with 4:30 remaining in the third period, punching in a blocked shot into the back of the net.

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Wiesblatt, who’s eligible or the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, has 19 goals and 48 points in 44 games this season. Despite having played 20 less games than his rookie year last year, Wiesblatt already has career highs in goals, assists and points.

Max Money

Max Paddock has only played three games so far for the Prince Albert Raiders since coming over from the Regina Pats at the trade deadline. But in those three games, he’s been sensational.

He’s been named as the first star in all three, including Friday’s contest. He’s 2-0-0-1 with a 1.27 goals against average and .953 save percentage.

Paddock made 27 saves on 28 shots against the Oil Kings Friday, including a third-period show stopper on Vladimir Alistrov—a couple minutes before Wiesblatt’s tying goal.

In the second period, Paddock went crease-to-crease to keep out a seemingly sure goal from Prince Albert product Riley Sawchuk.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Oil Kings, Dylan Guenther from Riley Sawchuk, 8:36

Second Period

No scoring.

Third Period

1-1, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Ilya Usau and Aliaksei Protas (power play), 15:30

Overtime

2-1, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Kaiden Guhle and Brayden Watts, 1:07

Rebel yell

The Raiders will complete their season series against the Red Deer Rebels, as they head into the Westerner Park Centrium on Saturday.

The Rebels may be on the outside looking into the playoff race, but they’ve given the Raiders fits this year. The Rebels have beaten the Raiders twice this year so far, on 3-2 on Nov. 9 and 6-5 in overtime on Jan. 7. However, the Raiders’ one win against them so far this year was a big one, 7-1 on Nov. 20.

After that, the Raiders will have two home games at the Art Hauser Centre next week, taking on the Oil Kings yet again on Friday, and the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW