Niall Crocker had a hat-trick during Friday's 6-4 loss to the Oil Kings in Edmonton. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Logan Lehmann

On to Red Deer

Crocker nets hat-trick as Oil Kings defuse late comeback efforts by Raiders

Jan 19, 2024 | 11:08 PM

Niall Crocker led the way for Prince Albert Raiders on Friday night, netting a hat-trick in a 6-4 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rogers Place.

The loss is the third in a row for Prince Albert after they fell 4-3 in Regina last Saturday and 6-4 in Brandon on Sunday.

The Raiders entered the third 4-1 before Turner McMillen scored early in the period to make it a two-goal deficit. Edmonton restored the lead later in the frame before Crocker scored back-to-back goals to shift the tides, making it 5-4 with three minutes to play. Unfortunatly for P.A., Ty Nash put the final nail in the coffin by scoring the empty netter, securing the win for the Oil Kings.

Sloan Stanick led the assist department for the Raiders with three while Jacob Hoffrogge, Luke Moroz, Brayden Dube, Eric Johnston, and Krzysztof Macias each had one.

Along with Nash for Edmonton, Landon Hanson, Rhys Pederson, Marc Lajoie, Skyler Bruce, and Roan Woodward also found the back of the net. Bruce and Lajoie both also tacked on an assist while Gavin Hodnett had three, Gracyn Sawchyn had two, and Matthew Gallant, Smyth Rebman, and Eastyn Mannix each had one.

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Raiders netminder Max Hildebrand made 16 saves in goal before being pulled midway through the second for Nathan Preston who made nine stops in the game as Prince Albert falls to 19-21-0-3 on the campaign.

Kolby Hay was in net for the Oil Kings and made 36 saves to help Edmonton improve to 15-24-1-1 this season.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

The Raiders found themselves down big after the opening period as the Oil Kings led 3-0. Hanson got Edmonton on the board, Pederson potted the first of his career, and Lajoie lit the lamp on the man advantage, which set a new Oil Kings franchise record for most powerplay goals by a defenceman in a single season.

Edmonton continued on the gas in the second when Bruce made it a four-goal lead, however the Raiders did manage to get on the board a short time later.

On the powerplay, Stanick fed the puck to Crocker at the side of the goal where he swiftly spun around to hook the shot past Hay to break the goose egg.

It remained 4-1 heading into the third when Prince Albert made it a two-goal game. Dube dropped the puck off for Moroz on the high right circle who fired a pass toward the goal. The puck landed on the tape of McMillen who then tapped home his second as a Raider.

The Oil Kings restored their three-goal lead later in the frame thanks to Woodward before Crocker got his second of the night. Johnston let a shot go from the point that deflected off Crocker as he was passing by with less than 10 minutes to play, making it 5-3.

Then with 3:04 remaining in the game, made the hats fly. Macias fired a shot toward the goal that hit Crocker in front, blocking the shot. The puck fell to the ice and onto the Crocker’s tape where he batted it into the empty cage to make it a one-goal game.

However, P.A.’s comeback hopes were crushed with 31 seconds to go after Nash scored the empty netter to seal the 6-4 win for Edmonton.

The Raiders continue their three-in-three weekend Saturday night when they take on the Rebels in Red Deer. Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. Nolan Kowal will have that call on 900 CKBI with the pre-game show beginning at 7:30 p.m.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com