(Red Deer Rebels/Rob Wallator)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders Hockey

Raiders can’t hold on to narrow lead against Rebels late

Feb 25, 2022 | 10:55 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders were about five minutes away from their third victory in a row, against a Red Deer Rebels team on the road that has given the Raiders fits throughout the season.

Rookie Raiders goaltender Max Hildebrand was playing out of his mind in just his second WHL career start, stopping just about everything that came his way. His defenders were getting in lanes, blocking shots, and doing everything they could to defend their lead.

But that was the problem. They defended and defended, the Rebels attacked and attacked, and finally broke the dam open late. The Rebels tied it with 4:08 left, then took the lead with 2:31 remaining as Ben King scored his league-leading 39^th goal to make it a 3-2 lead.

Hildebrand made 34 saves on 37 shots for the Raiders. Chase Unger only needed to make 15 saves on 17 shots for the Rebels’ victory.

For the first 55 minutes of the game, both teams seemed to cancel each other out on even-strength situations, as all the offence was created on the man advantage. Raiders’ Sloan Stanick struck first, scoring 3:34 into the game after Ozzy Wiesblatt’s centering pass was deflected and bouncing, before Stanick poked in the loose puck.

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Ben King would equalize in the second period, as King scored his WHL leading 38^th goal and 18^th power play goal with a hard snapshot at the top of the right circle.

Landon “the Closer” Kosior stepped up in the third period, and ripped a one-timer into the Rebels’ net after a beautiful saucer pass across from Wiesblatt. Like he did on the first power play goal, Raider defenceman Nolan Allan also got an assist.

But as the Rebels were chasing the tying goal, Kyle Masters pounced from the blueline and put home a rebound to tie it up at 2-2 with 4:08 remaining.

Then without missing a beat, the Rebels took their first lead of the game with 2:31 left in the third period. Ben King dove from behind the net to poke in a rebound to make it 3-2, and score his second of the game and 39^th of the season.

Then on the following faceoff, Raiders forward Ozzy Wiesblatt and Rebels’ Jace Isley jostled for position before Wiesblatt sticked Isley between his legs and was ejected from the game for a spearing major.

That’s the second time this week a Raider has taken a non-fighting major penalty. Trevor Thurston served his second of a five-game suspension for a pair of major penalties he received in Monday’s 4-1 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers. On the same play, Thurston got a major for charging, then got a major crosschecking penalty in the ensuing scrum.

The Raiders stay at 41 points through 49 games, while the Rebels rise to 67 points in 50 games.

The Raiders will take on the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday in Edmonton.

Game Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Sloan Stanick from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Nolan Allan (power play), 3:34

Second Period

1-1, Rebels, Ben King from Christoffer Sedoff and Arshdeep Bains (power play), 6:20

Third Period

2-1, Raiders, Landon Kosior from Ozzy Wiesblatt and Nolan Allan (power play), 3:29

2-2, Rebels, Kyle Masters from Dallon Melin, 15:52

3-2, Rebels, Ben King from Arshdeep Bains, 17:29

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW