Raiders Keep Rolling In Regina
Regina, SK – The Prince Albert Raiders (26-1-0-0) continued their winning ways on Saturday night, earning a 5-2 victory over the Regina Pats (8-19-0-0) at the Brandt Centre.
Noah Gregor sparked the Raiders’ offensively with a three-assist performance. Ozzy Wiesblatt earned the first multi-point performance of his young WHL career with a goal and an assist. Kody McDonald also scored and added a helper.
For the first time in two weeks, the Raiders’ opponents opened the scoring. The Pats broke into the Raiders’ end on a three-on-one rush. Carter Massier took a cross-ice pass from Marco Creta and snapped it past a sprawling Ian Scott at the 9:14 mark, making it 1-0.
Late in the opening period, the Raiders tied the game. While on the power play, Gregor’s point shot was deflected past Pats goaltender Dean McNabb by Brett Leason with 27 seconds left in the frame. The goal extended Leason’s streak of having at least a point in every game this season, which is now at 27 games.
SCORES! @Bleason7 gets a piece of @n_gregs20‘s shot on the power play with 27 seconds left in the period.
1-1 game at the first intermission.#REGvsPA #GoRaidersGo pic.twitter.com/1IoB1vX32T
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) December 2, 2018
McDonald extended the Raiders’ lead early in the second. Working behind the net, McDonald stepped out and slid the puck through McNabb on a wraparound attempt for his fifth of the year. Wiesblatt picked up an assist on the goal that made it 2-1 to extend his point streak to five games.
SCORES! Kody McDonald tucks home a wraparound!
2-1 us. 1:39 into the second.#REGvsPA #GoRaidersGo pic.twitter.com/t3cpncN0TS
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) December 2, 2018
Midway through the period, Brayden Pachal put the Raiders up 3-1. He worked a give-and-go on with Aliaksei Protas, receiving the pass in the slot and beating McNabb in his 200th career WHL game. The goal was Pachal’s sixth of the year.
SCORES! Mr. 200! @BraydenPachal finishes off the give-and-go!
3-1 us. 8:32 to play in the second.#REGvsPA #GoRaidersGo pic.twitter.com/RtxCGsiQhd
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) December 2, 2018
The Pats got back within one at the 12:40 mark of the third on the power play. Jadon Joseph, one of the players sent to Regina as part of the Jake Leschyshyn and Nick Henry deal, snapped a shot from the right wing and beat Scott on the far side, making it a 3-2 game.
Less than two minutes later, the Raiders restored their two-goal lead. Jeremy Masella took a hit to chip a puck ahead to Kody McDonald, who hit Wiesblatt with a pass. The rookie from Calgary fought off a Pats defender and snapped a shot past McNabb for his fifth of the year.
SCORES! @ozzywiesblatt is on fire! He fights through the defence and beats McNabb!
4-2 us. 5:40 to play.#REGvsPA #GoRaidersGo pic.twitter.com/iQsD3MHqPH
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) December 2, 2018
Late in the game, Spencer Moe put the game away. He forced a turnover at the Pats blue line, which was picked up by Gregor. The San Jose Sharks prospect dropped the puck for Moe, who went off the cross bar and in to round out the scoring at 5-2 with 2:18 to play.
SCORES! @spencerm04 finds the back of the net!
5-2 us. 2:18 to play.#REGvsPA #GoRaidersGo pic.twitter.com/Dky99FIdKq
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) December 2, 2018
Scott made a number of key saves early in the game, finishing with 24 on the evening for his 22nd win. McNabb stopped 24 shots in a losing effort.
The Raiders continue their slate of games away from the Art Hauser Centre on Tuesday night when they head to Swift Current to face off against the Broncos (4-21-1-1) at the Innovation Credit Union i-plex. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
The next Raiders’ home game is on Saturday, December 8 against the Brandon Wheat Kings (13-7-3-3).Tickets are available at the Raider Office and at raiderhockey.com. Game time is 7 p.m.
