Tigers defenceman Niilopekka Muhonen carries the puck away from Raiders forward Ethan Bibeau. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders Down 3-0 in Series

Repeated early attacks take Tigers over Raiders in Game 3

Apr 17, 2025 | 1:39 AM

After two great comeback efforts that fell short in games one and two, the Prince Albert Raiders looked to home ice for the remedy in game three when they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the Tigers would score early in each period on their way to a 6-1 win and a 3-0 series lead over the Raiders.

In the first 58 seconds of the game, the Tigers were on the board. Marcus Pacheco would play the puck out of the corner to the top of the right side circle for Hunter St. Martin, and he ripped a wrist shot into the back of the net.

The only other mark on the scoresheet in the first period was a Tiger penalty for interference, but the Raiders couldn’t capitalize despite an evenly played first period.

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

Just 1:22 into the second, the Tigers were on the board again. This time St. Martin sent a pass up the left wall to Mathew Ward breaking in on a 2-on-1. Ward didn’t have the passing lane, so he fired short side to double the Tigers’ lead.

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At the 14:04 mark, the Tigers scored on their second powerplay of the game. The puck would get worked to Veeti Vaisanen sneaking down the left wall, and he’d fire on goal to score.

Then just 1:15 later, the Tigers scored to make it 4-0. This time it was another 2-on-1 rush and Pacheco sent the puck to Tanner Molendyk streaking up the right side, and he didn’t hesitate to unleash a slapshot into the back of the net at 15:19.

With only 21 seconds left in the period, the Raiders would finally get on the board. Aiden Oiring worked the puck into the middle for Daxon Rudolph, and he fired through traffic where Lukas Dragicevic going towards the goal was able to tip it in for his sixth of the playoffs at the 19:39 mark.

After 2: Raiders 1 – 4 Tigers, shots 10-6 Tigers, 19-14 Tigers overall

If the Raiders had any momentum going after the late goal, Gavin McKenna quickly killed it 1:16 into the period. He stole the puck behind the Raiders goal, leaned down, loaded the puck on his stick, then curled the Michigan-lacrosse style move into the top corner for an unassisted beauty.

If that wasn’t enough, the Tigers added insult to injury with a final goal from former Raider Ryder Ritchie. After McKenna made a play to hold the puck in and stop a Raider breakout, McKenna found Ritchie streaking back into the zone for a partial breakaway and he ripped the wrist shot home at 5:12.

FINAL: Raiders 1 – 6 Tigers, shots 10-8 Tigers, 29-22 Tigers overall

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com