By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders blast WHL’s best goalie in 6-2 win

Nov 21, 2014 | 9:07 PM

Swift Current Broncos goaltender Landon Bow came into Friday’s game against the Prince Albert Raiders leading the Western Hockey League in just about every goaltending statistic and has had a dynamite start to the season.

But those numbers to a few dents on Friday as the Raiders forced Bow from his net early in the second in a 6-2 victory at the Art Hauser Centre—the Raiders’ second straight win against the Broncos. They won last week’s game 3-2 in a shootout down in Swift Current.

Bow, who entered the game leading the league in save percentage, goals against average, shutouts, saves and minutes played, was yanked after giving up four goals on 18 shots. The Raiders added two empty net goals late in the third to make it 6-2.

“We got some pretty good shooters and they made some good shots,” said Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid. “I thought early in the game, we were real good. We were ready to play and we didn’t just get any shots, we got real good shots.”

Raiders 20-year-old Jayden Hart was the finest sharp shooter on Friday, netting his first career hat trick. He scored the first two goals of the game to give the Raiders a quick 2-0 lead, before scoring the 6-2 goal to complete his hatty.

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His second goal however was quite an odd one. Raiders centre Jordan Tkatch was drilled into Bow by Broncos defenceman Brett Lernout, which sent Bow flying out of his crease and out of the play. The puck squeaked out to Hart who slotted it into the empty cage.

“I thought we were actually getting the penalty, but I thought I’d bang it home just in case,” said Hart. “They ended up getting the penalty, so it worked out, I guess.”

The Raiders however, had outstanding goaltending from Rylan Parenteau. He made 44 saves including some dandies, notably a blocker save on a partial breakaway against Broncos point-machine Coda Gordon. Parenteau has stopped 72 of the 76 shots he’s faced in the last two games against the Broncos. He’s also registered the Raiders last four wins and is 4-1 in his last five starts.

“I’m so happy for Rylan, he works his tail off every practice and every game,” said Hart. “It’s nice to get rewarded like that for him.

“He’s just great guy and a great player.”

Parenteau’s performance has given the Raiders team confidence, but also to No. 30 himself playing in his rookie season as an 18-year-old.

“You’re come in with your confidence as high as you can and believe you can win the game,” said Parenteau. “You just go about it day-by-day.

“If you’re nervous, you’re not going to win.”

Summary

The Raiders have struggled in the first periods this year. They headed into Friday’s game outscored 28-17 and giving up the first goal of the game 14 times in their 22 games.

But the Raiders scored the first three goals of the game after an energetic flurry of offence.

Jayden Hart had the Raiders’ first two markers, with Craig Leverton giving the Raiders a 3-0 lead heading into the second.

The Broncos would have a push back, outshooting the Raiders 23-9 in the second period and scored twice from Jake DeBrusk and Andreas Schumacher but still trailed 4-2 to P.A. heading into the third period as Reid Gardiner found the net for the Raiders.

In the third, Reid Gardiner scored his second on the empty net, while shorthanded, from his own goal crease to make it 5-2. Hart ended it late with a 6-2 empty netter.

Warren Harper remembered

Prior to the game, the late Warren Harper was immortalized as the Raiders named Section 8 at the Art Hauser Centre as the Warren Harper Section.

Harper was an important player in the Raiders history, having helped the team to two Centennial Cup Championships and also played in the Raiders’ inaugural year in the WHL. The Raider fans gave a warm reception in his memory prior to the game during the unveiling ceremony. Harper lost a battle to cancer in January.

Looking ahead

Friday’s game is the third last home game until the holiday break. The others are a Nov. 29 game against the Brandon Wheat Kings and Dec. 17 against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Raiders will play 10 games on the road before the break, including a three-game road-swing this week and their seven game B.C. road-trip between Dec. 3-13.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea