Justice Christensen lines up with Lukas Sawchyn during the first period between the Raiders and the Oil Kings. (Katie Harding/Edmonton Oil Kings)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders win 4-1

Raiders prevail through adversity in Edmonton

Mar 16, 2025 | 5:51 AM

After a grinding effort Friday night in Red Deer, the Prince Albert Raiders were in Edmonton to take on a rested Oil Kings squad. Not only did the Raiders get a multi goal lead, but they protected it through some tough penalties in the third to win 4-1.

By the time the Raiders got their first penalty of the game halfway through the period, a holding call to Vojtech Vochvest, the shots were only 4-2 for the Oil Kings, but the Raiders didn’t allow a shot on the penalty kill.

At the 16:39 mark, Ty Meunier and Riley Boychuk connected to get the Raiders on the board. Meunier picked off a pass at the Raider blue line before speeding up the left side of the ice while Boychuk caught up for the 2-on-1. Meunier fed a great pass through the defender to Boychuk on the right, and he ripped home his 14th of the year.

After 1: Raiders 1 – 0 Oil Kings, shots 7-3 Oil Kings

The second period saw the Raiders score on a play that developed in seconds starting with A Tomas Mrsic forecheck. He dumped the puck in to the left corner of the goaltender, sped in and checked the defender to free up the puck, then sent his pass from below the goal line to Brayden Dube streaking into the slot who onetimed his 29th of the season at 4:36.

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Then at 18:52 with play reduced to 4-on-4, Daxon Rudolph would take a puck away in his own zone for a 2-on-1 up the left side. The young defenceman decided to do it himself, firing his sixth old the season.

With 11 seconds left in the period, the Oil Kings got on the board with a powerplay. Gracyn Sawchyn fired a shot towards the goal from the middle of the blueline, and Mirosoav Holinka put a great tip on it into the net.

After 2: Raiders 3 – 1 Oil Kings, shots 16-9 Oil Kings, 23-12 Oil Kings overall

The third period saw all kinds of adversity for the Raiders. First it was their fourth delay of game penalty in three games, but they killed it. Then the Raiders were flooded with calls, a holding call on Rudolph where he had his stick and glove taken away while he himself was hauled down, Dube was called on a hook while fighting for a puck in the offensive zone, Dayce Derkatch was called on a very weak slash, but the Raiders killed all of them off.

There were two players where Raiders could have been hurt as well, first when Aiden Oiring was highsticked directly in front of an official but no call was made.’ The Raiders did get a powerplay when Justice Christensen was boarded and nearly went head first into the boards, but they didn’t score.

The Oil Kings would pull their goalie, but the Raiders Niall Crocker would take a pass away and fire the puck down the ice to hit the empty goal for his 27th of the year at 19:09 to close out a gutsy road win.

FINAL: Raiders 4 – 1 Oil Kings, shots 10-4 Oil Kings, 33-16 Oil Kings overall

With the win, the Raiders jump from seventh place in the Eastern Conference into fifth. The Oil Kings drop to seventh and trail the Raiders by two points, while Saskatoon drops to sixth in the Conference and third in the East Division by just one point, but Saskatoon has a game in hand.

The Raiders still trail Brandon for the East Division lead by a single point.

The Wheat Kings schedule to finish the season includes a battle with the Blades on Wednesday, then two against the Regina Pats on the weekend.

Before that Wednesday matchup, Saskatoon will play Regina on Sunday. Then to finish the season, the Raiders and Blades meet each other on Friday and Saturday which very well could decide the winner of the Division.