After 121 games in the WHL, Czech born defenceman Vojtech Vochvest scored his first goal in the league as the Raiders beat the Pats 4-3 in a shootout. (Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders win 4-3 (SO)

The Raiders are officially in the playoffs

Mar 5, 2025 | 1:39 AM

After playing three solid games but still losing their last three, the Prince Albert Raiders needed a win on Tuesday night to break into the playoffs. The Regina Pats took the Raiders to overtime for the fourth time this season, but the Raiders came out on top 4-3 in the shootout.

The Raiders had a 4-1 lead in the shot department before the Pats got the only powerplay of the first period. The Raiders killed it off, and they used that momentum to score the game’s first goal.

At the 10:05 mark, Justice Christensen sent a pass ahead to Niall Crocker waiting at the red line, and the two worked the puck down the ice together. Crocker returned the give and go pass, and Christensen entered the zone with the puck, then dropped it back for Crocker again. Christensen moved to the middle, Crocker hit him with the pass, and Christensen hit the back of the net for his 22nd of the season.

After 1: Raiders 1 – 0 Pats, 13-6 Pats

Just 26 seconds into the period, we got one of the best moments of the season. The Pats would try to clear the puck past the left line, and Vojtech Vochvest held the line. He then fired through traffic, catching Pats goaltender off guard and the puck snuck through fivehole. After 121 games in the WHL between Kamloops, Prince George, and now Prince Albert, Vochvest scored his first goal as a member of the Raiders unassisted.

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At the 5:38 mark, Niall Crocker would add to the lead with a goal of his own. This time the play started below the goal line when Crocker stripped the Pats from the puck and sent it out through the slot for Christensen. He fired the puck over the net, and it took a bounce off the glass out front where Crocker had set up, and he batted the puck out of the air for his 25th of the season.

After 2: Raiders 3 – 0 Pats, shots 15-9 Raiders, 22-21 Pats overall

The Raiders played a pretty solid third period, but shots from the point would become a problem late. At 4:37, a shot from the right point by Ephram McNutt would get a tip and find the back of the net.

Then at 10:31, another McNutt shot would get stopped, and Max Hildebrand made a great save with the stick to rob Kristian Lacelle on the rebound, but another rebound would come out to Matt Paranych who found the back of the net.

With the goaltender pulled, the Pats would tie the game with 40 seconds left. Reese Hamilton put a onetimer on goal from the right point, and the rebound came out to Julien Maze who put it in to tie the game and send it to overtime.

After 3: Raiders 3 – 3 Pats, shots 12-12, 34-33 Pats overall

The Raiders would outshoot the Pats in overtimer 3-2, but that wouldn’t solve anything. It would go into a shootout for the third time this season between the Raiders and the Pats.

The Raiders sent out Aiden Oiring, Tomas Mrsic, and Lukas Dragicevic while the Pats countered with Caden Brown, Zach Pantelakis, and Julien Maze. Mrsic was the only one who found the back of the net on a shot in the second round, snapping the Raiders losing skid at three and securing a spot in the playoffs.

FINAL (SO): Raiders 4 – 3 Pats, shots 3-2 Raiders, 36-36 overall

While the Raiders are officially in the playoffs, their seeding in the Eastern Conference could still vary a ton before the end of the year. Right now the Raiders are five points ahead of Saskatoon and three points ahead of Brandon for the top spot in the East Division, but both teams have at least a game in hand.

Justice Christensen’s 22nd goal of the season now ties him with Manny Viverios’ 1985-86 season for the most third most goals in a season for a Raiders defenceman. He’s now one goal shy of Jesse Lees 2015-16 season where he put up 23, and Josh Morriessey’s 28 goals in 2013-14.

With eight games left on the season, the Raiders now get set for the first of two home and home series with the Saskatoon Blades starting on Friday.