Raiders goaltender Max Hildebrand. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders Hockey

Raiders still on the outside looking in on playoffs after frozen by ICE

Mar 26, 2022 | 8:52 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders began their road trip with two regulation defeats, as they remain two points out of the final playoff spot with eight games remaining.

The Raiders lost their second straight game this weekend, 6-2 to the Winnipeg ICE, and still trail the Swift Current Broncos by two points for the final playoff spot (55-53).

“We just didn’t snap the puck around enough or win battles or get really have great opportunities. We had a couple, but it wasn’t enough,” Raiders assistant coach Jeff Truitt said. “You’ve got to hem this team in their zone and force them to play defence. That’s going to be your biggest weapon, so we have to do more of that tomorrow.”

The Raiders gave up a goal 13 seconds into Friday night’s 5-3 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings, so Vladislav Shilo figured ‘why can’t we do the same thing?’ Shilo scored 21 seconds into the game, as his innocent-looking wrist shot fooled ICE goaltender Daniel Hauser on the low-blocker side.

But it was almost all ICE from there.

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ICE power forward Jack Finley started his hat trick bid, scoring his at the 15-minute mark of the period to tie it up after the opening 20 minutes.

The ICE started to take the game over in the second period. They scored two goals and surrendered just one Raider shot on goal in the frame to take a 3-1 advantage into the third period. The ICE scored stylish give-and-go between Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie four minutes in, before Evan Friesen scored on a goal-mouth scramble about 13 minutes into the second period.

Jack Finley was keen on getting his hat trick, as he scored twice within the first 6:51 of the third period to send the hats flying. Cole Muir tipped in a Nolan Orzeck shot, the ICE’s third power-play goal, 8:14 into the final frame. Nolan Allan answered for the Raiders on the power play, halfway through the third period, to get the Raiders back on the board.

Although he gave up six goals on 37 shots, Truitt was happy with the effort Max Hildebrand put forward. The rookie was making his fifth WHL appearance in his career, but he kept his team in it as long as he could after pressure early and often from the ICE.

“I thought Max played real well here tonight. He hasn’t had a ton of games in here, but every game he gets into, he’s comfortable. You’re not nervous about him being in the pipes. He’s calm, he’s athletic,” Truitt said. “When you have a team like Winnipeg put 37 shots on you, there’s going to be some dangerous shots and a couple are going to get by you. But I thought he battled real well.”

Game Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Vladislav Shilo from Sloan Stanick and Remy Aquilon, 0:21

1-1, ICE, Jack Finley from Owen Pederson and Zachary Benson (power play), 15:35

Second Period

2-1, ICE, Matthew Savoie from Conor Geekie and Carson Lambos (power play), 4:00

3-1, ICE, Evan Friesen from Skyler Bruce and Chase Wheatcroft, 12:47

Third Period

4-1, ICE, Jack FInley from Owen Pederson and Benjamin Zloty, 2:39

5-1, ICE, Jack Finley from Owen Pederson and Nolan Orzeck, 6:51

6-1, ICE, Cole Muir from Nolan Orzeck (power play), 8:14

6-2, Raiders, Nolan Allan from Sloan Stanick and Landon Kosior (power play), 10:26

Do it all again tomorrow

The Raiders will take on the ICE again on Sunday, 4 p.m. at the Wayne Fleming Arena.

–

Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW