Raiders defenceman Jacob Hoffrogge plays the puck during a contest against Regina earlier this season. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Logan Lehmann

Setback in the Capital

Pats cruise to 5-2 win over Raiders

Mar 15, 2024 | 10:21 PM

The Regina Pats played spoiler against Prince Albert on Friday night, taking away an important two points from the Raiders in a 5-2 decision at the Brandt Centre.

The loss is the second in as many games for the Raiders and hinders their record as the team pushes for a playoff spot. With Lethbridge winning their game over Red Deer on Friday, the Hurricanes are now one game up on the Raiders and now sit tied for sixth with Brandon. Meanwhile, the Green and Gold occupy the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, still sitting five points ahead of Calgary with four games left on the schedule.

Leading the charge for Prince Albert in the contest was Justice Christensen who had a goal and an assist while 2024 NHL Draft prospect Ryder Ritchie also had two points picking up a pair of helpers. Turner McMillen was the other goal scorer while Aiden Oiring also found the assist column.

For the Pats, Braxton Whitehead, Anthony Wilson, and Prince Albert’s own Tanner Howe each tallied a goal and an assist while Tye Spencer and Jaxsin Vaughan lit the lamp. Keagan Slaney, Cole Temple, and Zackary Shantz also found the scoresheet with an assist each.

Kelton Pyne picked up the win for Regina, stopping 32 shots to help the Pats improve to 22-36-4-2 on the year.

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In the other goal, Max Hildebrand made 14 stops and was handed the loss as P.A. falls to 30-28-2-3.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

The Pats managed to get on the board first at the midway mark of the opening period when Tye Spencer carried the puck over the blueline and fired a shot past Hildebrand.

Regina’s lead didn’t last long though as the Raiders potted the tying tally 1:14 later. Ritchie threw the puck at the net and the rebound fell onto the tape of McMillen who was sitting on the doorstep to net the equalizer.

It remained that way until the halfway point of the second when the Pats scored not once, but twice in two minutes and carried a 3-1 lead into the third.

The Pats kept on the gas and scored 10 seconds into the final frame, this time off the tape of Howe for his second point of the night.

It stayed 4-1 until there was just under five minutes to play when the Raiders powerplay sparked some signs of life. Christensen took a pass from Oiring in the high slot and rocketed a shot past Pyne to restore the two goal deficit.

However that’s as close as P.A. would come. Whitehead cashed in on the empty net in the final two minutes as Regina took it 5-2.

The Raiders now have a quick turnaround as they are back in action on Saturday, wrapping up the season series against the Wheat Kings in Brandon. Nolan Kowal will have the call on 900 CKBI with the pregame show set to start at 5:30 p.m.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com