Raiders momentum starting to roll after statement win in Swift Current

The Broncos didn’t go away early though, and they found a goal at the 5:42 mark. Jace McFaul came in off the bench and collected the puck at the left side of the blueline, fired a wrist shot, and Clarke Schaefer tipped it in.

After 1: Raiders 2 – 1 Broncos, shots 11-10 Raiders

The Broncos found a way to tie the game at the 12:43 mark of the second period. It was another point shot that got tipped in, but this time it was Hyde Davidson who took the shot, and Luke Huska tipped it in.

Before the end of the period, the Raiders took the lead back on a nice rush out of their zone. Brandon Gorzynski took the puck out of the zone on a 3-on-1 rush, then once he crossed the line he passed back to the middle for Jordan Murray stepping into the play. Murray fired a shot for a rebound, and it came out perfectly to Ben Harvey who buried his sixth of the year.

After 2: Raiders 3 – 2 Broncos, shots 13-8 Raiders, 24-18 Raiders overall

The third period saw the Raiders offence explode. 2:14 into the period, and Riley Boychuk and Owen Corkish went to work on the forecheck. Corkish came away with the puck behind the net, and then made a great pass from behind the goal line to find Jonah Sivertson for a tap in at the front of the goal and Sivertson’s third of the year.

Then at 3:50, the Raiders scored again while play was reduced to 4-on-4. Benett Kelly and Brock Cripps both picked up assists for cycling the puck at the blue line, but Alisher Sarkenov did most of the work on this one when he got some space from the defenders, cut in on the left side of the slot, then fired his second of the night and eighth of the season.

Shortly after, the Broncos were struggling to leave their own zone and Benett Kelly dumped the puck into the Broncos zone off the back wall. Evan Smith hustled in off the bench to the loose puck as it bounced out to the slot, Smith quickly took his shot, and gave it just enough gas to hit the goaltender and trickle into the net behind him for Smith’s first of the season at 5:56.

For the final tally of the night, Brandon Gorzynski got sprung on a partial breakaway and got just enough to room to cut in front of the goaltender, then flip the puck in far side for his second of the night and sixth of the season at 10:15.

FINAL: Raiders 7 – 2 Broncos, shots 19-8 Raiders, 43-26 Raiders overall

The Raiders now have points in each of their last five games, including wins in each of their last two.

Offensively, Alisher Sarkenov has 4G-3A spread across his last five games, Brandon Gorzynski has 4G-3A in his last six games, and Brock Cripps has had five straight two point nights with 1G-9A in his last five games.

In goal, Michal Orsulak started both games and seems to be gaining some confidence back. Against Swift Current, Orsulak stopped 24 of 26 shots faced for a 0.923 save percentage. On the weekend, Orsulak posted a 0.923 save percentage during the two wins.

The Raiders are off until Wednesday when they will play host to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders momentum starting to roll after statement win in Swift Current

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