Hitmen defenceman Carter Yakemchuk takes the puck behind his net with Raiders defencemen Lukas Dragicevic in chase. (Calgary Hitmen)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders lose 3-1

Raiders nine game point streak snapped to start Alberta road swing

Feb 5, 2025 | 11:52 PM

With three tough games on the schedule for the Prince Albert Raiders as they went on the road into Alberta, they knew it was going to be a tough test against the top three teams in the Eastern Conference starting with the Calgary Hitmen. The Raiders battled well at times, but second period struggles would be the difference as the Raiders fell 3-1 and had their nine game point streak snapped.

The first period saw the Raiders get some great chances early. Brayden Dube poked a puck past a defender and went on the attack in the corner, centering the puck for a streaking Tomas Mrsic, but his onetimer was stopped in the best chance of the first period.

The Raiders also killed off the game’s first penalty while allowing just a single shot while getting a great chance from Rilen Kovacevic at the other end, but overall the Raiders and Hitmen held each other off the board.

After 1: Raiders 0 – 0 Hitmen, shots 9-8 Raiders

In the second period, the Hitmen started to put on pressure early after another early powerplay, but the Raiders still held them off the board. Eight minutes in, David Adaszynski would drop the gloves with Matteo Fabrizi, and he held him at arm’s length for most of the fight before Fabrizi landed a couple solid punches near the end.

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After the dust had settled, the Hitmen got on the board for their first goal of the game when Oliver Tulk cycled the puck out of the corner towards the top of the slot, and he just put one on goal that Max Hildebrand got a piece of, but it ultimately snuck between his elbow and his side into the back of the net at 10:21.

Then at 18:57, the Hitmen scored again on the rush this time when Brandon Gorzynski brought the puck in from the right, and he cut in towards the slot before dropping it back for Connor Hvidston. He fired a shot through traffic into the back of the net.

After 2: Raiders 0 – 2 Hitmen, shots 17-7 Hitmen, 25-16 Hitmen overall

The Hitmen found a goal early in the third period that deflated a Raiders comeback. Just 1:33 in, Oliver Tulk was sprung on a 2-on-1 with Tanner Howe, and Tulk held on to the puck as the Raiders defender took the pass away, giving Tulk room to dangle and tuck it fivehole for his second of the game.

From there the Raiders would press, but it wasn’t until they got some 4-on-4 action near the end of the game when they’d find the back of the net. Lukas Dragicevic sent the puck across the line to Christensen on the right, and he fired a wrist shot intended for a tip from Ethan Bibeau who tucked it under the bar for his seventh of the season at 18:05.

The Raiders would pull the goaltender late, but they wouldn’t be able to get a shot away and would ultimately drop this game in the end.

FINAL: Raiders 1 – 3 Hitmen, shots 12-11 Raiders, 36-28 Hitmen overall

With the loss, the Raiders have had their nine game point streak snapped after collecting eight wins and a shootout loss. The Raiders have typically dominated in the faceoff circle this season, but Wednesday night they only went 34 per cent from the dot.

The Raiders have Thursday off before they do battle with the Lethbridge Hurricanes to continue the Alberta road swing on Friday.