By Jeff D'Andrea

Late flurry helps Raiders beat Pats, to extend long winning streak

Dec 1, 2018 | 9:16 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders keep the good times going, picking up their 19^th straight victory after defeating the Regina Pats 5-2 Saturday night at the Brandt Centre.

Despite the face we are now officially into the month of December, the Raiders have only suffered one loss thus far this season with their 26-1 record.  

But the Pats did put the Raiders in for a scare or two.

For just the fifth time this season, the Raiders surrendered the opening goal. It was also the first WHL career goal for Carter Massier, who buried one off a nice give-and-go on an odd-man rush with Marco Creta.

Then in the third period, Pats newcomer Jadon Joseph, who was part of the massive trade Thursday between the Pats and Lethbridge Hurricanes, scored to make it a 3-2 game.  

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“They did the right things against us. They clogged up the neutral zone, we didn’t have a lot of room, got some turnovers and were caught playing in our own zone, a little bit,” Raiders assistant coach Jeff Truitt said. “ Odd-man rushes cost us a little bit too early on. I thought we got a little bit better in the second and in the third, we had more o-zone time and got some through there. You have to grind these ones out and the guys did.”

Raiders rookie Ozzy Wiesblatt stepped up 1:40 after that Joseph goal to restore the Raiders’ two-goal lead.

After Raiders defender Jeremy Masella broke the play up in the neutral zone and took a crushing hit for his troubles, Kody McDonald found Wiesblatt, who split the defence and score the important insurance marker.

The crazy train’s going off the tracks here, as Ozzy Wiesblatt restores the Raiders’ two-goal lead, despite the attention of two Pats defenders. Jeremy Masella broke the play up in the neutral zone and took a big hit, to create that opportunity. 4-2 Raiders with 5:40 remaining. pic.twitter.com/uPxqRd3tWe

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 2, 2018

Wiesblatt is starting to heat up in a big way. Six of his 10 points in his 16-year-old season have come in his last five games. He scored one point in each of the Raiders’ four games in the team’s WHL Central Division swing, and added a goal and an assist on Saturday.

“Ozzy can always score. He could always score as a youngster and he’s starting to feel it now,” Truitt said. “He’s understanding the pace that he has to play at, he’s understanding the strength with the puck and he’s getting more and more confidence with it. He’s making good plays.

“When Ozzy gets an opportunity to shoot, good things are going to happen. It was a great effort by him, and that sure gave us a bit of breathing room.”

Playing in his 200^th WHL career game, Raider captain Brayden Pachal scored the game winner for his club in the second period. With a great give-and-go with Aliaksei Protas, Pachal sniped his sixth of the season past the blocker of Pats goalie Dean McNabb.

Add another one to the captain’s log. Brayden Pachal tucks in his sixth of the year under the bar after a nice give-and-go with Aliaksei Protas. 3-1 Raiders lead with 8:32 left in the second pic.twitter.com/YnLyHveyGy

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 2, 2018

When asked about what Truitt learned about Pachal since joining the Raiders this year from the Red Deer Rebels, he learned to like the captain instead of dreading his club playing against Estevan man.

“Just how valuable he is, every night. I appreciate him for what he does,” Truitt said. “He’s not going to flash and dash you with his skill, but he’s certainly going to be above and beyond with his effort, his hardness with the game and his intensity throughout 60 minutes.

“He was a tough guy to play against. We had a conversation when I talked to him this summer about playing against him. I didn’t like him, but I’m certainly glad I’m on his side now.”

Did Brett Leason extend his point scoring streak?

Yes, he sure did. Leason has now recorded a point in all 27 games so far to start the year for the Raiders. Since the 1996-97 season, only Aleksi Heponiemi’s 28-game scoring streak from Oct. 14, 2017 to Jan. 21, 2018 with the Swift Current Broncos has been longer than Leason’s. Leason is currently tied for second with Heponiemi’s partner in crime, Glenn Gawdin, and his 27-game streak last season.

On Saturday, Leason squared up the game in the final minute of the first period at 1-1, tipping a shot from Noah Gregor on the power play.

Brett Leason extends his point scoring streak to 27 games to start the year. He gets a piece of Noah Gregor’s shot to tie up the game late in the first period. Both teams head into the second intermission tied at 1-1 pic.twitter.com/akfsGoY45m

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 2, 2018

That’s Leason’s 27^th goal in as many games. He’s also the first player in the CHL to reach 60 points this year.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Pats, Carter Massier from Marco Creta, 9:14

For just the 5th time this year, the Raiders give up the first goal. A lovely give-and-go on the 3-on-1 rush gives Pats’ Carter Messier his first WHL career goal. 1-0 Raiders trail at the first period media timeout. pic.twitter.com/2VeMUnBJ44

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 2, 2018

1-1, Raiders, Brett Leason from Noah Gregor and Sergei Sapego (power play), 19:33

Second Period

2-1, Raiders, Kody McDonald from Cole Fonstad and Ozzy Wiesblatt, 1:39

Kody McDonald with the 90’s-esque wrap around to put the Raiders up 2-1. 16-year-old Ozzy Wiesblatt picks up an assist, giving him a point in all his last five games. pic.twitter.com/PHbCTK43ja

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 2, 2018

3-1, Raiders, Brayden Pachal from Aliaksei Protas and Noah Gregor, 11:28

Third Period

3-2, Pats, Jadon Joseph from Nikita Sedov and Austin Pratt (power play), 12:40

Pats’ newcomer Jadon Joseph gets the Pats to within one on the power play. It’s 3-2 Raiders with 7:20 remaining. pic.twitter.com/5f0boxTMMc

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 2, 2018

4-2, Raiders, Ozzy Wiesblatt from Kody McDonald and Jeremy Masella, 14:20

5-2, Raiders, Spencer Moe from Noah Gregor, 17:42

The freshly shaven Spencer Moe puts the Raiders up 5-2, after a nice backhand drop pass from Noah Gregor. 2:18 remaining. pic.twitter.com/c80GNHeFbp

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 2, 2018

Two more on the road

The Raiders will close out their seven-game road swing on Tuesday against the Swift Current Broncos and Friday against the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Raiders will then return home to face the Wheat Kings at the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday, but they won’t stay long. The Raiders will then head down to Saskatoon to face the Blades on Sunday.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW