Matteo Fabrizi jams at a loose puck at the side of the Wheat Kings net as the Raiders fall 5-3 to the Wheat Kings. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders lose 5-3

Wheat Kings take season series with Raiders in strong defensive effort

Jan 5, 2025 | 6:53 AM

With six games already played between the Prince Albert Raiders and Brandon Wheat Kings, the two teams met for the seventh time Saturday night in the Art Hauser Centre. A slow start from the Raiders and a ton of blocked shots by the Wheat Kings late in the game saw the Raiders fall 5-3 in the final.

Just 3:03 into the first period, the Wheat Kings scored to start the game. A puck came out of the corner to Prabh Bhathal in the high slot, and he disguised his shot behind a screen that snuck by Hildebrand to give the Wheat Kings the early lead.

The Raiders got their first powerplay of the game just over halfway through the first period, and they converted at 13:39. Tomas Mrsic set up a Lukas Dragicevic onetimer, and Niall Crocker parked in front of the net managed to tip the puck from one side of the net to the other for his 14th of the season.

The Wheat Kings took back the lead in the final minute of the period. Jaxon Jacobson looked like he was going to try a wraparound but he stopped short and sent a pass back out the same side. Hildebrand didn’t bite on the wraparound fake and made the save, but a scrum insued at the side of the net and the Wheat Kings Caleb Hadland tucked it home for what was considered an unassisted effort.

After 1: Raiders 1 – 2 Wheat Kings, shots 15-7 Wheat Kings

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The Raiders tied it just 1:24 into the second. On the forecheck, Brayden Dube managed to steal the puck behind the Wheat Kings goalline and send a pass out front for Aiden Oiring, and he onetimed it home for his 16th of the season.

The Wheat Kings took the lead back again at the 7:36 mark. After the Raiders second powerplay of the game poured shots on goal for two minutes, they got caught on a bad change and that set up a breakaway for Marcus Nguyen, and wristed a shot past Hildebrand to make it 3-2.

Then at 11:15, the Wheat Kings powerplay found what would become the game winner. A shot from the point would cause a scramble in front of the net, and this time Jacobson managed to find the loose rebound and sweep it into the net.

In the final minute, Justice Christensen made a nice play of the left wall to hold in a clearing attempt from the Wheat Kings. While a screen of Ethan Bibeau and Niall Crocker in front, Christensen found a shooting lane and put home his eighth of the season to get his team back within one at 19:13.

After 2: Raiders 3 – 4 Wheat Kings, shots 13-12 Wheat Kings, 28-19 Wheat Kings overall

The third period saw the Raiders heavily outplay the Wheat Kings, but Alex Garrett in net made a few incredible saves to keep his team ahead. The Raiders third powerplay and first of the third period fell flat, giving up more chances than they earned.

The Raiders got their fourth powerplay of the game 14 minutes in, and this time they were firing on all cylinders. They found shots on goal five times plus a number of shots that were blocked, but still they couldn’t solve Garrett in goal.

The Raiders pulled their goalie with two minutes left and still poured chances on, but the Wheat Kings defended well to choke the Raiders out. At the 19:45 mark, Caleb Hadland stole a pass in the slot and sent the puck down the ice for the empty netter.

FINAL: Raiders 3 – 5 Wheat Kings, shots 14-6 Raiders, 34-33 Wheat Kings overall

The Raiders have now played six games in nine days since returning from the Christmas break, and they finally get more than one day off after the loss. They return to action on Wednesday as they start a three game road swing through Alberta that will start in Medicine Hat on Wednesday.