Raiders take Game 1 in Everett

After 1: Raiders 0 – 1 Silvertips, shots 12-8 Silvertips

The early penalty kill generated momentum for the Raiders, and that lead to an early tying goal. Connor Howe went into the right side corner on the forecheck and poked it free from a Silvertips defender, Braeden Cootes picked the puck up behind the net, and then quickly centered it for Jonah Sivertson, and he hammered home the onetimer to tie the game at 5:12 with a goal similar to what Everett scored in the first. For Sivertson, it’s his third goal of the playoffs.

At the 15:07 mark, the Raiders took the lead with their first powerplay of the game. Brock Cripps and Alisher Sarkenov both picked up assists (although Sarkenov’s will likely be changed to Max Heise), but it was Braeden Cootes who scored a beauty. Curling around the blueline towards the top of the right circle, Cootes noticed a screen and a wide open fivehole, and just like he did in the series clincher with Medicine Hat, Cootes slid a slower shot along the ice that hit the back of the net before the goaltender even realized it for his seventh of the playoffs.

Then with play reduced to 4-on-4, the Raiders scored again. The Silvertips underestimated the speed of Brayden Dube who suddenly stole the puck behind the net, curled out to the left wing, then sent a pass across to Daxon Rudolph on the right. The entire defence shifted expecting a shot from Rudolph, but he instead sent a pass back across and Justice Christensen stepped into the onetimer for his second of the playoffs at 17:50.

After 2: Raiders 3 – 1 Silvertips, shots 16-13 Silvertips, 28-21 Silvertips overall

In the third, the Silvertips put on the pressure while the Raiders started to get more physical. Linden Burrett through the biggest hit of the game right in front of the Silvertips bench when he sent Carter Bear for a ride late in the period.

The Silvertips would get their goaltender pulled late, and on their fourth and final powerplay of the game, they finally struck. After Landon DuPont recollected the puck at centre, he passed ahead to Julius Miettinen who snuck in down the right side. While the Raiders penalty kill was worried about taking away the passing lanes, Miettinen skated in the right side and threw a backhand on that snuck through to make it a one goal game at 17:51.

Again the Silvertips would pull their goaltender, and a great onetimer chance was blocked by a mess of Raiders in front of the net, and at 18:55, Aiden Oiring managed to recollect the puck at the side of his goal, quickly turning and firing down the ice for his eighth of the playoffs, unassisted.

FINAL: Raiders 4 – 2 Silvertips, shots 13-5 Silvertips, 41-26 Silvertips overall

Despite being the team that’s played more hockey recently and being on the road, the Raiders seemed to be the more energetic team by a longshot. Particularly the third period, the Raiders were more physical in the hits department with big hits from Max Heise and Linden Burrett in the frame.

Michal Orsulak had a fantastic night in net for the Raiders. With 39 saves on 41 shots, Orsulak was tested with a ton of chances in tight, through traffic, and set up behind him, but solid positioning from the 6’4 Czechian goaltender.

The Raiders and Silvertips will battle it out in Game 2 on Saturday.

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders take Game 1 in Everett

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