Raiders netminder Max Hildebrand made 23 saves during P.A.'s 6-4 loss to Moose Jaw on Friday. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Logan Lehmann

skid hits four

Firkus nets five points as Warriors down Raiders

Jan 5, 2024 | 10:08 PM

Jagger Firkus was the star of the show on Friday night.

The Seattle Kraken prospect potted five points, a goal and four assists, to help the Moose Jaw Warriors topple the Prince Albert Raiders 6-4 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

With Moose Jaw up 2-1 entering the third, they quickly made it 3-1 before the Raiders made it a one goal game. A short time later, the Warriors restored the two-goal lead then P.A. managed to catch wind tie it up at four. However, Moose Jaw kept on the gas and scored twice late in the frame to down the Raiders.

The loss is the fourth in a row for Prince Albert as the team now drops to 17-18-0-2 on the campaign.

Alongside Firkus on the scoresheet was Brayden Schuurman, Rilen Kovacevic, Pavel McKenzie, Atley Calvert, and Martin Rysavy in the goal column. Kalem Parker potted three helpers in the contest while Cosmo Wilson, Ethan Semeniuk, and Lucas Brenton also collected assists.

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For the Raiders, Niall Crocker led the way with two goals with Oli Chenier and Terrell Goldsmith also lighting the lamp. Aiden Oiring and Sloan Stanick both had a couple assists while captain Eric Johnston, Hayden Pakkala, Harrison Lodewyk, and Krzysztof Macias each had one.

Max Hildebrand turned aside 23 shots in the Raider goal while on the opposite end, Jackson Unger tallied 48 saves to help the Warriors improve to 22-14-0-2 this season.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

The Raiders broke the ice early in the contest off the tape of one of their rookies. Macias’ shot was deflected wide of the goal and bounced hard off the boards and back out in front, right on the tape on Chenier who fired home his fourth of the campaign.

Later in the frame with less than two minutes to go, the Warriors pulled the game back to even thanks to Schuurman’s five-hole marker to make it 1-1 after one.

Just 34 seconds into the second period and Moose Jaw took the lead. Calvert’s initial shot was stopped but Kovacevic was on the doorstep to bury the rebound as the Warriors carried that lead into the third.

McKenzie would extend the Moose Jaw lead to two early in the final period before the Raiders got one back. Stanick carried the puck over the blueline before delivering a saucer pass over a Warriors defender stick and onto the tape of Crocker who roofed it short side making it 3-2.

Moose Jaw wasted little time in restoring their two-goal lead with Calvert joining in on the fun before the Raiders began to climb back. Midway through the frame, Goldsmith carried the puck near the point before letting a shot go that fooled Unger, cutting the deficit back down to one.

Less than two minutes later, P.A. managed to tie it up. A scrum in front of the net saw the puck pop out in front of the goal where a crashing Crocker potted his second of the game to make it four all.

However, a late Raiders penalty sealed the deal as the Warriors were able to capitalize. Firkus got the puck along the boards and sent a pass to Rysavy who was beside the Raider goal. He managed to take advantage of a sprawling Hildbrand and send it upstairs for the game winner.

To add salt to the wound, Firkus picked up his fifth point of the night with an empty net goal as the Warriors down the Raiders 6-4 in Moose Jaw.

P.A. is back at home for their next contest when they host the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday night. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com