Logan Linklater gets a shot on goal against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Keith Hershmiller/WHL

By Jeff D’Andrea

Link's awakening

Raiders rookie Linklater gets two assists to help Raiders snap skid

Mar 27, 2021 | 11:17 PM

Already with overage goaltender Max Paddock and captain Kaiden Guhle unavailable due to injury, the Prince Albert Raiders learned yet another key player would join them in the infirmary before Saturday’s contest against the Moose Jaw Warriors—overager and five-year veteran Spencer Moe (lower body, day-to-day).

With mighty Moe out of the lineup, that gave the opportunity for players to step up and fill that spot. On Saturday, rookie forward Logan Linklater put up his hand and said

In the first period, Linklater got primary assists on both Raiders’ first two goals, on the way to a 5-2 win over the Warriors. The win snapped the Raiders’ four-game losing streak (0-3-1) and evens out their record to .500 (3-3-1-1).

“I was struggling for the first couple of games there, and to break through feels good,” Linklater said. “Anytime you can put your team up or help your team, I think it’s a plus.”

Logan Linklater and Ozzy Wiesblatt celebrate Wiesblatt’s first period goal. Keith Hershmiller/WHL

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Linklater played a regular shift throughout the game on the top forward line with San Jose Sharks signed prospect Ozzy Wiesblatt and four-year veteran Reece Vitelli. He settled down a bouncing puck for Wiesblatt, who tied the game at 1-1 in the first. Linklater also got a shift on the penalty kill, where he set up Justin Nachbaur for his shorthanded goal later in the frame.

“(Linklater) competes, he’s real smart. He’s a smart player, he’s intelligent and knows the ins-and-outs of the game. He uses his head, has good hands and vision and those types of things,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said. “He’s a good skater, he’s not a great skater, but he makes up for that with his smarts—and with that, he competes, too. He played real well, I thought he was a big part of that top line.”

Eric Pearce scored his fourth of the season in the third period to put the Raiders up 3-2. That was eventually the game-winner. The Raiders then added two empty-net goals Wiesblatt and Vitelli. Eric Alarie and Cade Hayes scored for the Warriors.

Carter Serhyenko got his first victory of the season, making 16 saves on 18 shots. Brett Mirwald made 31 saves on 34 shots for the Warriors.

Warriors captain Daemon Hunt was ejected in the third period, after receiving a major penalty for a check to the head on Reece Vitelli. Vitelli played the ensuing power play, later scoring on the empty net.

Because I’m Habby

With the victory, Marc Habscheid moved into a tie for sixth in all-time wins as a WHL head coach. He now has 548 wins. When asked if he knew about the accomplishment beforehand, Habscheid simply said “nope, and I don’t care.”

Moe injuries to report

After absorbing a big knee-on-knee collision on Thursday against the Regina Pats, Spencer Moe sat for Saturday’s game. Moe was struck by Pats captain Logan Nijhoff in the third period, and Nijhoff was given a major penalty.

Moe (lower body, day-to-day) joins fellow overager Max Paddock (lower body, day-to-day) and team captain Kaiden Guhle (upper body, indefinite) on the injury list. The Warriors had numerous injuries as well, including one to top scorer Ryder Korczak.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Warriors, Eric Alarie from Brayden Yager and Daemon Hunt (power play), 6:11

1-1, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Logan Linklater and Reece Vitelli, 8:27

2-1, Raiders, Justin Nachbaur from Logan Linklater (shorthanded), 12:46

Second Period

2-2, Warriors, Cade Hayes from Atley Calvert and Denton Mateychuk, 10:50

Third Period

3-2, Raiders, Eric Pearce from Adam McNutt and Graydon Gotaas, 1:53

4-2, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Eric Pearce and Landon Kosior (empty net), 18:55

5-2, Raiders, Reece Vitelli (empty net), 19:48

Up next

The Raiders will battle against the Saskatoon Blades on Monday, before taking on the Brandon Wheat Kings on Tuesday. Both contests are at 4 p.m.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW