Hurricanes snuffed out by a Big “Mc” attack!!!
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Mark McNeill's first career hat trick was the big story from Saturday's 5-1 Raider victory in Lethbridge. The 17-year-old centreman continues to solidify his spot as the Raiders best prospect to be taken in the first round of the NHL draft since Kyle Chipchura.
His third goal was highlight reel material as McNeill buried a low shot converting a beautiful three-way play with line mates Brandon Herrod and Igor Revenko that was started by Herrod deep in the Prince Albert zone. That killed mounting Hurricane momentum in the second period giving the Raiders a 4-1 lead which essentially sealed the Saturday-night deal. The Raiders also showed restraint and discipline in the face of frustration induced Hurricane nastiness late in the game. McNeill scored the shootout winner in his home town of Edmonton in Wednesday's victory that opened the Central Division trek.
The other storyline to emerge was the play of goalie Jamie Tucker. The 19-year-old trumped McNeill for first star status on Saturday with a sizzling 32 save performance including a pair of timely stops on breakaways with the game on the line. Tucker also got the shootout win in Edmonton with help from four, third-period goal posts with the final shootout attempt also ringing off the iron to give P.A. the victory. However take nothing away from Tucker's win in Edmonton. He made two great saves on cross crease passes that looked like sure goals.
The lone loss of the trip came Friday in Red Deer. The Rebels carried the first period momentum from a pair of early power plays and led 2-0 after twenty minutes. The Raiders rallied in the second outshooting the home side 16-8, but couldn't beat Saskatoon-based goalie Darcy Kuemper. The Rebels net minder who leads the league in wins, goal against average and save percentage also recorded his league leading fifth shutout making 33 saves. Kuemper's best stop came point blank on Igor Revenko. The lanky goalie reached up while on his belly to snag Igor's rising wrister in the second period.
