By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders implode, drop 8-2 loss to red-hot Hitmen

Nov 26, 2011 | 11:14 PM

Although the Prince Albert Raiders dropped an 8-2 decision to the Calgary Hitmen Saturday, the game was up for grabs for almost half of it.

After a 1-1 first, the Hitmen exploded in the second with three goals within a 3:01 span from Brady Brassart, Brooks Macek and Trevor Cheek which not only gave them a 4-1 lead heading into the third, but stole all of the game’s momentum as well.

If the shot clock was any indication, the Raiders were dominant in the first period, owning a 15-5 advantage in that category in the opening stanza, but their tough, consistent game they had to beat the Vancouver Giants a night before in overtime only lasted a period.

“I thought to that point, it was anybody’s game. Before the (first) goal, we had a couple of chances, but they went down and scored,” said Raiders head coach Steve Young. “It’s a matter of not doing the proper things and then there’s another puck in your net.

“It’s disappointing because it’s a situation where we’re getting opportunities; we’re playing the way we need to play. We talked a lot after the game on how consistent we had to be, that’s how we beat Vancouver—but it kind of got out of hand.”

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Did it ever.

Shenanigans ensued after as both teams combined for 92 penalty minutes, three fights, two misconducts and a game misconduct. Tempers weren’t the only things getting out of control, the scoreboard was as well.

Almost five minutes into the third period, Hitmen forward Danny Gayle scored from centre ice. He barely crossed the icing line, flipped it into the Raiders zone and started to head to the bench and appeared very puzzled as to why the game was stopped.

That was the end of Raiders goaltender Eric Williams’ night, after he couldn’t handle the difficult bounce Gayle’s flip produced. He made 18 saves on 23 shots.

Williams has been used very heavily as of late by the Raiders. He’s started three games in the last four nights and has appeared in all of the Raiders’ last 13 games. Young said Williams deserved to start Saturday after he was great Friday, making 30 saves in the overtime win.

“I don’t think fatigue, physically, came into factor,” said Young, who added he pulled Williams to try to get some momentum going.

Raiders back up Cole Holowenko, unfortunately, could not provide that boost as he let in the first shot he faced, Brady Brassart’s second of the game. Holowenko let in three goals on 10 shots and was shelled last week against the Hitmen, giving up four goals in 22 shots and was pulled in that game as well.

“I think it’s a situation for both goaltenders right now that they have to continue to play and fight through,” said Young. “They’re no different than a forward or a d-man. There’s going to be times where the game isn’t going exactly your way, but you have to fight through it.”

The win was huge for the Hitmen, who won all four of their Eastern Division road trip games and are one of the league’s hottest teams with a 7-2-1-0 record in their last ten. Now 14-10-1-1, they are just four points behind the Central Division’s second best team, the Medicine Hat Tigers.

“We had a pretty bad start to the season, but we’ve proven that we’re a good hockey team. We’re playing really good and we can beat every team,” said Hitmen forward Victor Rask, a second-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

The Hitmen, who picked the 18-year-old Swede third overall in the 2011 WHL Import Draft, can thank Rask for a lot of their recent success as he had a great road trip, scoring at least a point in all four games and has six in that span. He had two assists in against the Raiders on Saturday.

“I had a pretty good start of the season, had a dip in the middle of the season, but I’m on my way to getting better and better every day now,” said Rask. “I like to play here a lot.”

P.A. boy Lange finding his game

Lange, the 17-year-old rookie defenceman playing for his hometown team, has been scratched for 11 games this year but has made the most of his recent opportunity with the recent injury to defenceman Harrison Ruopp, who’s day-to-day with an upper body injury.

Lange has two assists in his last two games, and three points in his last five. He’s also getting a lot of time on the power play lately and made an excellent pass to Kellan Tochkin in the first period with the man-advantage for the Raiders’ first goal of the game.

Now with his feet wet in the WHL waters and the rookie nerves behind him, Lange said he feels much more comfortable on the ice, especially on the power play.

“When I first started playing on the power play and things like that, I wasn’t very familiar with what the guys were doing and where they were going to be, or what my options were,” said Lange. “In the last few games, I feel way more comfortable, I have lot more confidence in what’s going on and with all the time I’ve been with the guys, I can think a step ahead. It’s a lot less nerve wracking.”

Young too has noticed Lange become increasingly confident as the season has gone on, hens the recent increase in both ice time and responsibilities.

“He’s a local guy, so there’s probably that pressure playing in front of your hometown. He’s adjusted very well to that, has worked hard and is a natural athlete, which helps him a lot,” said Young. “In the last few games, he’s got his feet under him because he’s played a little more constantly and he’s a good defenceman.

“We believe he’s going to be a good Western League defenceman and we’re going to continue bringing him along.”

The Raiders will continue their homestand with a game against the Moose Jaw Warriors Wednesday at the Art Hauser Centre.

jdandrea@panow.com