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Raiders forward Evan Smith slips by the hit from Hurricanes forward Anthony Wilson. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)
Raiders lose 2-1 (OT)

Bad bounces lead Raiders into overtime loss against Hurricanes

Feb 27, 2025 | 1:25 AM

With just three points needed to clinch a playoff spot this season, the Prince Albert Raiders started a three game week on Wednesday when they welcomed the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Both teams played shut down, defensive hockey despite a ton of penalties handed out, but the Raiders would lose their lead late and only pick up one point in a 2-1 overtime loss.

The Raiders got to celebrate early in the first at the 4:33 mark. Riley Boychuk would dump the puck in from the right side so his teammates could change, and the puck came around behind the net and to the left wall for Evan Smith streaking in off the bench. He stopped on the half wall with the puck and found Linden Burrett alone at the right point. Burrett made a great move around the only defender left in the way, then finished with a wrist shot through a Boychuk screen to finish Burrett’s first goal in the WHL.

After an early push from the Hurricanes that at one point saw the Raiders down 7-2 in the shots, the goal from Burrett energized the Raiders bench to take control through most of the first period. The Raiders got two powerplays in the period and looked good on the first, while the second carried over into the second period.

After 1: Raiders 1 – 0 Hurricanes, shots 10-8 Raiders

After that powerplay expired, the Raiders dealt with some adversity in the second period. Rilen Kovacevic tried to throw a hit on Tristen Doyle at centre and Doyle tried to dodge, but Kovacevic’s leg would catch Doyle’s and Kovacevic would get ejected and a five minute major while Doyle did not return. The Raiders were about to kill off the entire five minute major when Niall Crocker blocked a shot at the point and was in a battle to try and get the puck by the defender for a breakaway, but his stick caught the defender’s hand for a slashing call, giving the Hurricanes a four second 5-on-3 powerplay.

The Raiders would kill off the brief 5-on-3 without giving up a shot, and they’d kill Crocker’s penalty off as well for a total of 6:56 straight on penalty minutes without giving up a goal. They’d also get a third powerplay at the end of the period, but the Raiders couldn’t break through.

After 2: Raiders 1 – 0 Hurricanes, shots 11-10 Hurricanes, 20-19 Raiders overall

After killinh off a penalty about halfway into the period, the Raiders would get a brief 5-on-3 of their own for 27 seconds. Still, neither team could find a goal as this game continued to drag on late.

At the 16:24 mark, the Hurricanes got their first break. Bringing the puck down the right side wall, Brayden Yager would fire a puck on goal from distance that would catch the bottom of Max Hildebrand’s blocker, then bounce to the ice and roll into the net to tie the game and send it to overtime.

After 3: Raiders 1 – 1 Hurricanes, shots 6-11 Hurricanes, 30-26 Hurricanes overall

In overtime, the Hurricanes started with a powerplay and the Raiders were able to kill it off. Lukas Dragicevic and Tomas Mrsic created a great chance on a 2-on-1, but Dragicevic was stopped by the bottom edge of Unger’s pad to redirect it wide.

At the 4:04 mark, the Hurricanes won it when Shane Smith took the puck in from the right wall and curled towards the left side across the slot. When he reached the top of the circle, he found a lane to shoot and he fired a wrist shot for the game winner.

FINAL (OT): Raiders 1 – 2 Hurricanes, shots 2-1 Hurricanes, 32-27 Hurricanes overall

With the lone point, the Raiders extend their point streak to three games, and they give themselves a chance to clinch a playoff birth in their next game. If the Raiders win against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday, or if the Red Deer Rebels lose their game Friday night, the Raiders will clinch a playoff spot.