By Jeff D'Andrea

Fastest flurry of 3 goals puts Raiders up on Blades

Sep 30, 2018 | 9:40 PM

If you had to go to the bathroom during the second period, you probably missed the Prince Albert Raiders make history.

Justin Nachbaur, Ozzy Wiesblatt and Parker Kelly all scored within 16 seconds, lifting the Raiders to a 4-1 victory over the previously undefeated Saskatoon Blades Sunday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders improve their record to 5-0, tied for most in the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The quick flurry breaks the Raiders franchise record for the fastest three goals scored, which was previously set back in 1987. Wade Bucsis, hall of famer Mike Modano and Pat Elyniuk all scored in 22 seconds of each other in a game against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Among the WHL record books, Nachbaur, Wiesblatt and Kelly’s markers are tied for the second fastest with the Swift Current Broncos in 1989—also funny enough against the Brandon Wheat Kings. The 1995-96 Kelowna Rockets hold the record for the fastest three goals, scoring them in a 12-second span.

“It was pretty wild. It didn’t even feel like 16 seconds,” Kelly said. “It’s kind of cool. It’s a little record there, trying not think too much about it.”

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Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid has been a part of a lot of hockey games, but cannot recall if he’s ever been a part of quick goal strikes like that.

“I’m too old. My memory—I’ve had too many concussions. I can’t remember,” Habscheid said. “That obviously was the turning point for us and for them. When you score that many [that quickly] it really engages one team and deflates the other. That was obviously a key point, we’re glad we’re on that side of the ledger.”

Nachbaur started the streak innocently enough, burying a rebound caused by a point shot from Sergei Sapego.

This started it all. Justin Nachbaur buries a rebound, caused by Sergei Sapego. pic.twitter.com/eHD7PWEnrz

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) October 1, 2018

Nine seconds later, rookie Wiesblatt scored. That’s Wiesblatt’s second of the year and third in five WHL career games.

Nine seconds after that, Ozzy Wiesblatt bears down for his second of the year. pic.twitter.com/JrmB7VAdyH

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) October 1, 2018

Then Kelly put the cherry on top seven seconds after that. Right off the draw, Pachal crossed the blueline and was able to find Kelly right in the slot.

Then seven seconds after THAT, Parker Kelly scores from the slot. 3 goals in 16 seconds, which I can now confirm is a Raider franchise record for the fastest 3 goals, shattering the old team record of 22 seconds. It’s also tied for second fastest in WHL history. pic.twitter.com/kMJg1nkTUJ

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) October 1, 2018

Raiders Overager Kody McDonald extended the lead to 4-0 with his first of the season, later in the second period. 

Blades rookie Tristen Robins got his first WHL career goal in the third period.

Ian Scott made 28 saves on 29 Blades shots. He’s been dynamite coming out of the gates with a 4-0 record, .940 save percentage and 1.75 goals against average. He’s in the top five in all of those categories as well, including being tied for first in wins.

“I like him, he has a real good presence about him. He looks confident, he looks big in there. He looks calm,” Habscheid said of his starting goalie. “The shots come and as a coach, you feel like he’s going to stop every one of them. The most important position on your team is in goal. We won 4-1, but he made some big saves.”

The game was the Raiders’ third in as many nights, against the Blades who entered the contest with a 3-0 record. The Raiders beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-4 in overtime on Saturday, after a 5-3 win over Medicine Hat on Friday.

Short night for Brook

The Raiders found themselves shorthanded early into the game as 16-year-old rookie Jakob Brook suffered an upper body injury after a collision near the Raiders bench after his first shift. He did not return to the game.

“We think it’s not that bad, but we’ll know in a day or two,” Habscheid said.

Alberta bound

The Raiders are going on a four-game road trip to Alberta this week. They’ll be in Medicine Hat on Wednesday before going to Lethbridge on Friday, Red Deer on Saturday and Calgary on the following Monday.

When the Raiders return home, they’ll do so on Oct. 13 against the Red Deer Rebels for Parker Kelly’s Bobblehead Night.

When asked about what it was like, Kelly recalled getting phoned by Raiders business manager Michael Scissons about the idea.

“Scizz texted me in the summer and asked me to take a picture of my face. I was like ‘what’s that all about?’” Kelly said. “Then he explained it. It’s something that probably might not happen again, so I just want to take it all in. I know my family’s going to be up here and wanting a bobblehead. I’m sure I’ll see a lot of myself here.”

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW