Ethan Bibeau makes a check in the offensive zone on Wheat Kings defenceman Charlie Elick as the Raiders come from behind to win 5-4 in a shootout. (Scramble Studio/Brandon Wheat Kings)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders win 5-4 (OT)

Raiders erase early deficit to come from behind in Brandon

Nov 10, 2024 | 9:56 AM

Coming into Saturday’s action in Brandon, the Prince Albert Raiders had won three of their last four games including their last game over the Regina Pats in overtime. The Raiders fell behind early to the Wheat Kings, but battled back in a big third period to win 5-4 in overtime.

The Wheat Kings got started early at 4:24 when Nolan Flamand intercepted a pass through the middle of the ice. He sent the puck up the left wing for Marcus Nguyen on a partial breakaway, and he shot far side to open the scoring.

At the end of the period, the Wheat Kings scored again. At 17:50, the Wheat Kings won a faceoff in the neutral zone, and a d-to-d pass between Charlie Elick and Dylan Ronald opened a seam for Caleb Hadland. On a 2-on-1, Hadland down the left side shot far side again, beating Hildebrand to make it 2-0.

After 1: Raiders 0 – 2 Wheat Kings, shots 14-5 Wheat Kings

At the 12:05 mark, Tomas Mrsic was called for high sticking, giving the Wheaties their first powerplay of the game. Just 13 seconds later, Hildebrand would stop a puck through traffic, but he looked right as the rebound bounced off a defender to his left, leaving Dominik Petr alone to score on the rebound at 12:18.

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Shortly after, the Raiders got the spark they were looking for when Lukas Dragicevic dropped the gloves with Ben Binder Nord in a spirited tilt. The Raiders would get a 4-on-3 powerplay before the end of the period to try and build some momentum, but the stage was set for a big third period comeback.

After 2: Raiders 0 – 3 Wheat Kings, shots 15-11 Wheat Kings, 29-16 Wheat Kings overall

With Charlie Elick in the box for cross checking and Aiden Oiring in for embellishment, play was 4-on-4 when Brayden Dube started the comeback out of nowhere. With an assist from Lukas Dragicevic, Dube found space down the right wing wall and fired a wrist shot from a sharp angle, scoring his sixth of the season at 6:24.

Just 32 seconds later, Dube did it again. Now on the powerplay, the cycle moved the puck from Tomas Mrsic at the left point, Dragicevic in the middle, and down to Dube in the same spot he scored from moments ago. This time he stepped closer to the net before firing short side again to score at 6:56.

Then at 8:32, Dayce Derkatch scored his first in the WHL. Chasing a defender behind the net, Derkatch blocked a pass with his skate and fell behind the net. The defender tried to force the play with a pass past Derkatch, but instead hit the side of the net. Derkatch stood up and potted the loose puck into the wide open cage at 8:32.

Then the Wheat Kings got their lead back. Off a faceoff in the Raiders zone, the puck bounced to Dominik Petr who found some open space in the slot, ripping home a wrist shot to take the lead back at 13:42.

In the dying minutes of the game, Mrsic took Nguyen to the box on offsetting roughing calls, making it 4-on-4 again. The Raiders got posession of the puck in the offensive zone and pulled Hildebrand, and they found the back of the net when Justice Christensen rifled a puck on goal, and Niall Crocker in front tipped it past Ethan Eskit to tie the game at 18:44.

After 3: Raiders 4 – 4 Wheat Kings, shots 15-3 Raiders, 32-31 Wheat Kings overall

The Raiders won both faceoffs in overtime and held the puck for pretty much the entire time, but they only needed 53 seconds to score an absolute beauty.

With Brayden Dube, Krzysztof Macias, and Justice Christensen cycling the puck at centre, Dube sent the puck ahead to Macias on the left wall, creating a not very dangerous looking 2-on-2 rush. With Christensen streaking to the net from the right, Macias sent a puck through the air chest height to Christensen, and he batted the puck out of the air into the back of the net for his third of the season and the game winner.

FINAL (OT): Raiders 5 – 4 Wheat Kings, shots 1-0 Raiders, 32-32 overall

The Raiders will now get set for four straight home games, their longest stretch of the season, as they get set for a Friday matchup with the Tri City Americans.

Now winning two straight games in overtime, the Raiders have wins in four of their last five games.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com