Reece Vitelli took over the game in the third period in Medicine Hat. (Submitted photo/Mark Peterson Media)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Check out this beautiful goal from Vitelli

Raiders’ Reece Vitelli takes over third period with brilliant highlight-reel goal in win over Tigers

Feb 21, 2022 | 6:25 PM

In a scrappy, low-scoring game in Medicine Hat, the Prince Albert Raiders needed a piece of magic in the third period to break a long-held 1-1 deadlock.

They got it from their captain—twice— as Reece Vitelli led his troops to a 4-1 victory over the Tigers in a Family Day Monday matinee. With the win, the Raiders are now 18-26-2-1 and have 39 points, now four points back of the eighth and final playoff spot.

Flying up the right wing 4:08 into the third, Vitelli toe dragged to his backhand to get by Tigers assistant captain Rhett Parson. Then just a foot or so from the crease, Vitelli quickly switched back to his forehand and somehow got it by Tigers netminder Garin Bjorklund for a beautiful, highlight reel and game-changing goal.

Vitelli then snapped a power play goal for the insurance marker 12:32 into the third period to give the Raiders a little cushion. Keaton Sorensen then made that cushion a little comfier when he scored on the empty net with exactly three minutes left in the game.

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Both teams traded power play goals in the first period, with Owen MacNeil scoring on a rebound seven minutes in, before Sloan Stanick scored on a weird one during the Raiders’ first man advantage at the 13-minute mark. After Landon Kosior ripped one of his increasingly famous one-timers from the left circle, a rebound bounced across the net to Stanick, who went to glove the puck to his stick. He was taken down by Tigers captain Daniel Baker, and while that took place, the puck went off Baker’s skate and into the Tigers’ net. After a quick video review, the good stood and it was 1-1.

Tikhon Chaika made 23 saves on 24 shots to keep the Tigers at bay throughout the game.

Thurston gets two major penalties late

Although the Raiders got the much-needed two points to help their playoff push, they’ll have a bad taste in their mouths as well.

Up 4-1 with 30 seconds remaining in the game, Raiders defenceman Trevor Thurston was levied with a pair of five-minute major penalties and a game misconduct on the same play. He was given a charging major after hitting Brayden Boehm at the Raiders’ blueline, before getting a second major for cross-checking a Tiger up high in the ensuing scrum.

Thurston has already been suspended this year, getting two games for a kneeing major penalty on Jan. 17 against the Red Deer Rebels. In his career, Thurston has been suspended for a total of eight games in three separate suspensions. Through his time this year with the Raiders and the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Thurston has 99 penalty minutes on the season, second in the WHL behind only Simon Kubicek of the Edmonton Oil Kings (104 penalty minutes).

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Tigers, Owen MacNeil from Daniel Baker and Dru Krebs (power play), 7:08

1-1, Raiders, Sloan Stanick from Landon Kosior and Ozzy Wiesblatt (power play), 13:06

Second Period

No scoring.

Third Period

2-1, Raiders, Reece Vitelli from Trevor Thurston, 4:08

3-1, Raiders, Reece Vitelli from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Nolan Allan (power play), 12:32

4-1, Raiders, Keaton Sorensen from Evan Herman (empty net), 17:00

Up next

The Raiders will play their second of a five-game road trip on Wednesday when they take on the Calgary Hitmen at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW