Raiders goaltender Max Paddock made 34 saves, but in a losing effort on Saturday against the Hurricanes. File photo/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders Hockey

Raiders fall short of sweeping Hurricanes

Feb 8, 2020 | 11:21 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders came up one game short to sweep the Lethbridge Hurricanes in their season series. After winning their first three matchups, the Raiders couldn’t close out the deal and fell 3-1 to the Hurricanes.

“There would’ve been a huge motivation for those guys,” Raiders assistant coach Jeff Truitt said. “Coming back from seven games on the road, coming back here the place was jumping with the crowd. There was a lot of motivation on their side, but we wanted the points as well. In our division, teams are winning and everything’s tight. We have to keep building.”

While the Raiders were saddled with back-to-back defeats this weekend, the Winnipeg ICE won two straight to sit two points behind the Raiders for first place in the WHL East Division. The ICE defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 Saturday night.

Max Paddock certainly did his part in goal for the Raiders, making 34 saves on 36 shots. But his team in front of him was shutdown by the Hurricanes’ defence. Carl Tetachuk made some great saves, especially in the third period when the Raiders were searching for the tying goal. Only Zack Hayes was able to sneak a puck behind him, doing so in the first period.

“I thought defensively, they blocked a ton of shots and their goaltender played real well. Even when we had some dangerous opportunities, we didn’t get clean looks or didn’t get pucks behind them,” Truitt said. “But they blocked a lot of shots and frustrated us, because we couldn’t find the space that we needed.”

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Special teams played a huge factor in the game. The Raiders were 0-5 with their power play, and were 1-4 on the kill. The Raiders killed off all of their previous 20 penalties until Oliver Okuliar broke that streak in the first period, scoring his first of two goals in the game. Former Minto Logan Barlage centered the puck, which deflect off the stick of Raider defender Jeremy Masella, and the pads of Paddock. It then found its way to Okuliar, who buried the rebound.

“Those special teams are so huge, all throughout the year, but right now [especially],” Truitt said. “You look at the bounces here and there, teams earn their bounces because they get pucks to the net. It’s up to you to make good decisions, to either clear it or do something with the puck. They got one by us.”

Calen Addison scored the game winner in the third period, after the Hurricanes held the line. Okuliar added an empty net goal late. With the win, Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio picked up win number 189, putting him on the all-time wins list for Hurricanes franchise coaches.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Zack Hayes from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Ilya Usau, 4:27

1-1, Hurricanes, Oliver Okuliar from Logan Barlage and Alex Cotton (power play), 13:43

Second Period

No scoring.

Third Period

2-1, Hurricanes, Calen Addison from Alex Thacker and Brett Davis, 10:50

3-1, Oliver Okuliar from Dylan Cozens and Ty Prefontaine (empty net), 18:22

Home is where the heart is

The Raiders will return home for three consecutive home games starting on Friday when they take on the Swift Current Broncos and Saturday against the Brandon Wheat Kings. Then on Tuesday, the Raiders will battle against the Regina Pats.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW