Dimitri Fortin fights to make a save through a screen against the Edmonton Oil Kings. (Katie Harding/Edmonton Oil Kings)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders lose 5-4

Empty netter serves as game winner as Raiders fall to Oil Kings

Jan 10, 2025 | 11:50 PM

After starting the road trip with a loss in Medicine Hat to lose their second straight, the Prince Albert Raiders looked to find the win column once again against the Edmonton Oil Kings Friday night. Despite a four point night from Tomas Mrsic, the Raiders would fall 5-4 to drop their third straight for the first time since early October.

Just 12 seconds into the game, the Oil Kings scored on the first shot of the game. On the rush down the left side, Gracyn Sawchyn received a pass from brother Lukas in the middle, and Gracyn put a backhand on goal to score the game’s first goal.

The Oil Kings scored at the 4:50 mark of the first to make it a two goal lead when Adam Jecho in the corner sent a pass along the goal mouth for Cole Miller, and he tipped it in to give the Oil Kings the two goal lead.

After 1: Raiders 0 – 2 Oil Kings, shots 11-3 Oil Kings

The Raiders got their only powerplay of the game in the early second period, and Tomas Mrsic got the Raiders on the board. From the middle of the blueline, Daxon Rudolph found Rilen Kovacevic to his left, and Kovacevic found a seam through the middle to Mrsic who rang both posts as he scored his 22nd of the season.

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At the 9:05 mark, the Raiders managed to tie it. Mrsic started the play this time, finding Rudolph on the right point, and he shot on goal for Niall Crocker to tip in his 15th of the year.

The Oil Kings took their lead back 22 seconds later when Gavin Hodnett collected a loose puck on the left side half wall, and he fired a sharp angle shot through a screen to score and give the Oil Kings back the lead at 9:27.

After 2: Raiders 2 – 3 Oil Kings, shots 9-8 Raiders, 19-12 Oil Kings overall

Ethan Bibeau found the back of the net to tie the game for the Raiders again at the 4:56 mark. After efforts at the blueline by Ty Meunier and Justice Christensen to hold the blueline, Bibeau was given the puck on the top of the circle left side, and he ripped a wrist shot on goal for his sixth of the season.

The Oil Kings then tied it again just 43 seconds later thanks to Blake Fiddler. On the rush, Fiddler went on the attack through the middle of the blueline and he fired a shot on goal between two Raiders from the high slot to score and give the Oil Kings the lead once more.

The Raiders pulled Dimitri Fortin to try and tie the game with less than two minutes left, but Gracyn Sawchyn picked off a pass at the blueline and on the breakaway hit the empty netter to give the Oil Kings the two goal lead at 18:32 mark.

Still with the goaltender pulled, Tomas Mrsic scored again with just four seconds left, which turned the empty netter from the Oil Kings into the game winner. On the rush, Ty Meunier sent the puck to Linden Burrett and he found Mrsic on the left wing. Mrsic ripped the puck on goal to score his second of the game, 23rd of the year, and give Linden Burrett his first assist of the night.

FINAL: Raiders 4 – 5 Oil Kings, shots 14-12 Raiders, 31-26 Oil Kings overall

The Raiders managed to outshoot the Oil Kings in the final two periods after being heavily outshot in the first. Across three penalty kills on the game, the Raiders only gave up three shots on the entire night.

The Raiders have now dropped three games in a row for the first time since early October as part of an eight game losing skid in the early portion of the year.

Just one game remains for the Raiders on the road with a stop in Red Deer to take on the Rebels for just the second time this season on Saturday.