At the bottom of the pile, Kelowna Rockets forward Ethan Neutens puts the puck in the back of the net after colliding with Max Hildebrand. (Kelowna Rockets)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders lose 7-5

Bad bounces plague Raiders in Kelowna

Oct 15, 2024 | 6:34 AM

The Prince Albert Raiders erased two different three goal deficits, and took a lead in the third period, but ultimately fell to the Kelowna Rockets 7-5 on Monday afternoon.

In the first twelve minutes of the game, the Raiders had three powerplays where they would get close, but a fanned shot or a solid save from Jake Pilon would keep the score at zero.

The Rockets would score on their second powerplay in the period when Caden Price sent the puck from the middle of the blueline to Tij Iginla on his right, and Iginla found a seam through the slot for a one-timer from Andrew Cristall at 15:38.

After 1 Raiders 0 – 1 Rockets, shots 10-10

Just 3:04 into the second, the Rockets got an early goal with Ethan Neutens crashing the net. He fell into the crease with the puck still loose, and every skater on the ice closed in. With at least six bodies in the crease, the puck found its way in and somehow Neutens was credited with the goal.

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The opposition would score again at 7:45 when the Rockets would get a 2-on-0 after a turnover in the Rockets zone with Kanjyu Gojsic and Andrew Cristall. The two players would pass the puck back and forth too many times, the puck would go back into the Rockets territory, but the same two players would get the puck back on a 2-on-1. This time, one pass from Cristall to Gojsic was all it took for the Rockets 3-0 lead.

The Raiders would score their first of the game when Luke Moroz sent the puck to Daxon Rudolph at the right point. Rudolph had to make a quick decision and quickly put the puck on net for Niall Crocker who made a nice tip for his third of the season at 8:57.

At 11:42, the Rockets scored again when Max Graham got a shot from the slot and picked up his own rebound, potting it in the back of the net.

The Raiders then got a 5-on-3 powerplay after an interference call on Rowan Guest and delay of game penalty to Jakub Stancl after he cleared the puck over the glass. On the 5-on-3, Tomas Mrsic (although credited to Niall Crocker) fed the puck to the point for Lukas Dragicevic, and his shot from the point would bounce out to Krzyzstoff Macias who hammered the rebound home for his first of the season in his first game back at 15:10.

After the second penalty expired, the Raiders immediately got another powerplay on a hooking call to Ethan Mittelsteadt, and at 16:47 the Raiders would score again. This time Macias picked up an assist, as did Dragicevic, but it was Tomas Mrsic’s fourth of the season that came off a wrist shot through the middle of a screen to bring the Raiders to within one.

After 2: Raiders 3 – 4 Rockets, shots 20-9 Raiders in the period, 30-19 Raiders overall

The Raiders momentum continued in the third at 4:32 when Harrison Lodewyk battled for the puck on the left wall, and once he popped out of the pile he took it to the point and rifled a wrist shot into the far top corner of the net for his second of the season. Brayden Dube and Doogan Pederson picked up assists in the goal that tied the game at 4.

The Raiders took their only lead of the game at 6:56, again with the Lodewyk line on the ice. Dragicevic cleared the zone with a flip into centre ice, and Lodewyk and Brayden Dube worked together to win the puck forward. Lodewyk took it down the left wall and sent a great pass across to Dube who tipped the puck in for his second of the season.

Under a minute later at 7:39, the Rockets got another break when Caden Price put a shot on goal that Max Hildebrand stopped, but lost track of. He closed his legs together thinking it was beneath him, then tried to put his glove on, and somehow Michael Cicek found the puck first and put the puck in the net to tie the game again.

At 14:10, Carter Kowalyk took the lead back for the Rockets with a shot from the blueline through traffic, and Brett Calhoon scored an insurance goal at 17:33 to give the Rockets the win.

FINAL: Raiders 5 – 7 Rockets, shots 10-7 Raiders, 40-27 Raiders overall

The Raiders get 26 hours of rest before they take on the Kamloops Blazers Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. Saskatchewan time. You can listen to the game live starting with the pregame show at 7:30 p.m. on 900 CKBI.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com