Raiders shutout for first time this season in Red Deer

After 1: Raiders 0 – 2 Rebels, shots 12-6 Rebels

The Raiders had a little over 1:30 of a penalty left to kill at the start of the second period, and that led to some momentum from the Raiders. The successful kill led to two straight powerplays for the Raiders, and on their third of the game it felt like the shooting gallery opened from every angle, but they still couldn’t find a way through.

After that powerplay ended, the Rebels found another goal on the rush. Again it was Cameron Kuzma that started the play by driving the puck in on the left side, but this time he took it to the corner, passed back for Jake Banicevic on the top of the left circle, and his wrist shot found the back of the net at 12:50.

Near the end of the second, Jordan Murray through a hip check on Cameron Kuzma as he entered the zone, sending Kuzma flying. That angered Jake Missura, and he jumped Murray into a fight. The two both dropped the gloves, Murray was bloodied up and finished the period in the dressing room getting patched up, and the Raiders got another powerplay for the instigator. Jonah Sivertson nearly scored on a great play with a whack at a rebound through traffic, but Nathan Salisbury in goal for the Rebels just barely managed to kick it away.

After 2: Raiders 0 – 2 Rebels, shots 14-10 Raiders, 22-20 Rebels overall

The third period saw the Raiders take a penalty early, but that penatly kill led to a ton of momentum for the Raiders. The Raiders started finding chance after chance in the Rebels zone, but the Rebels managed to fend them off.

The Raiders took a second penalty late, but they spent more time shorthanded on the attack to try and tie the game. With the goaltender pulled, Sivertson again got a great chance, but rang it off the crossbar and out of play, and soon the final buzzer would signal the Raiders second loss in a row.

FINAL: Raiders 0 – 2 Rebels, shots 17-7 Raiders, 37-29 Raiders overall

With the Raiders held scoreless for the first time this season, it snaps two long point streaks. Brandong Gorzynski had points in each of his last nine games, including seven straight games with a goal, and Alisher Sarkenov had his streak snapped at eight games.

Michal Orsulak has now posted five straight games with a save percentage at or above 0.923. The last two games in a row, Orsulak has stopped 27 of 29 shots faced for a 0.931.

The Raiders are back in action Sunday against the Edmonton Oil Kings before returning home for six straight games.

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders shutout for first time this season in Red Deer

What's Trending