Brayden Watts scored the lone goal for the Raiders in their defeat to the Calgary Hitmen. File photo/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Hitmen hold off Raiders' resistance

Hitmen hold off Raiders’ resistance and end Raiders’ long point streak

Feb 7, 2020 | 10:54 PM

It had to end at some time.

The 12-game points streak and four-game winning streak came to an end for the Prince Albert Raiders, as they narrowly fell 2-1 to the Calgary Hitmen.

Their defeat is the Raiders’ first in regulation since Jan. 4, when they lost 6-3 in Winnipeg to the ICE. They went 8-0-1-3 heading into Friday’s contest.

They piled up 40 shots against the Hitmen, but only Brayden Watts’ second period goal found its way by Hitmen goaltender Brayden Peters. Peters made a career-high 39 saves for his Hitmen and was named as the game’s first star.

Raiders goaltender Max Paddock, who was named as the game’s third star, was saddled with his first loss as a Raider. He made 26 saves on 28 shots. That’s Paddock’s first regulation loss since Jan. 3, when he was still a Regina Pat. Paddock is now 6-1-0-2 with the Raiders, with a .939 save percentage and a 1.63 goals against average.

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The Raiders fell behind 2-0 after the first period. They made two mistakes and both ended up in their net. After a turnover in their own zone, Riley Stotts was able to find Josh Prokop in front to put the Hitmen out in front four minutes in.

After the Raiders got caught cheating in the offensive zone, the Hitmen attacked the other way on a 3-on-1. Riley Fiddler-Schultz banged in a rebound for the eventual game-winning goal.

The Raiders got on the board halfway through the second period, as Brayden Watts dragged the puck out of traffic and found the back of the net.

The Raiders were able to turn it on in the third period as they outshot the Hitmen 17-6 in the third, but couldn’t find that tying goal as Peters stood tall. Zack Hayes hit the crossbar late, as they Raiders had a 6-on-4 power play late in the game.

The Wiesbros, the Brokops, Brolan Allan and his big bro Blake

Whenever the Raiders and Hitmen play each other, it means a little bit extra to three families.

There were three sets of brothers on the ice, with Ozzy Wiesblatt and Orca Wiesblatt doing battle against each other, as were Nolan Allan and Blake Allan.

And every game the Hitmen play, there will almost always be at least one pair of brothers on the ice. Josh and Luke Prokop are both regulars for the Hitmen.

It was a Wiesbro show for the first two meetings. Orca scored twice in the third period to give the Hitmen a 4-2 victory on Nov. 6 at the Saddledome. But in the rematch on Nov. 17 at the Art Hauser Centre, Ozzy tied up game with 2:16 left and won it in overtime to give the Raiders a 5-4 OT victory.

‘Canes coming up

The Raiders will take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday to wrap up their four-game road trip. The Hurricanes will be without the services of defenceman Trevor Thurston, who will serve the first of a two-game suspension for a kneeing major against the Red Deer Rebels in a 7-6 win. The Raiders have won all three contests against the Hurricanes this season.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW