With the Prince Albert Raiders falling in overtime on Wednesday, the point they picked up meant the Raiders could clinch a spot with a win on Friday against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Both teams had the lead twice in a penalty filled game, but the Raiders would come up short 5-4.
The first period was all Oil Kings, but the Raiders would come away with the lead. At the 5:14 mark, Aiden Oiring put a pass up the ice for Tomas Mrsic entering the offensive zone from the right, and he put a great pass across the ice for Lukas Dragicevic to fire and score on a wrist shot for his 15th of the season and his 50th of his WHL career.
After 1: Raiders 1 – 0 Oil Kings, shots 16-4 Oil Kings
The second period was the opposite of the first; the Raiders would outplay the Oil Kings, but the Oil Kings would be the ones outscoring the Raiders. Just 1:45 minute into the second, the Oil Kings would score on their third powerplay of the game when Gracyn Sawchyn was set up for a onetimer from the middle of the point that would squeak by Dimitri Fortin.
Then at the 12:44 mark, the Oil Kings powerplay would strike again on powerplay number four for the Oil Kings. This time it was a 4-on-3 that set up for Miroslav Holinka to shoot from the left side of the slot to give the Oil Kings the lead.
The Raiders would get the game back to even at the 14:13 mark when Jackson Kostiuk would cycle the puck below the goal line for Riley Boychuk, and he’d send the puck back to the right point where Justice Christensen was waiting, and he’d rip home his 21st of the year.
At 19:05, the Raiders took back the lead on their fourth powerplay of the period and the game. This time it was started by Brayden Dube below the goal line again, and he’d find Tomas Mrsic at the top of the blueline, he’d send a pass to Aiden Oiring standing on the bottom of the circle, and his onetimer would catch a piece of the goaltender and find the back of the net for Oiring’s 23rd of the year.
Then at the 19:41 mark, the Oil Kings would tie it again on the rush. Rylen Roersma would send a pass across the ice for Marshall Finnie streaking to the net, and he’d tip it into the back of the net.
After 2: Raiders 3 – 3 Oil Kings, shots 18-10 Raiders, 26-22 Oil Kings overall
It took all the way until the 14:04 mark before the Oil Kings found the back of the net for the first time in the period. On the cycle, the Oil Kings found Cole Miller with just enough time and space in the slot to get a onetimer away.
At 17:22, the Oil Kings got what would become the game winner. From the left side of the slot on the powerplay, Adam Jecho fired a wrist shot into the back of the net.
With over two minutes left, the Raiders would pull the goaltender for a great push at the end of the game. At the 18:34 mark, Ty Meunier would help get the puck to Dragicevic at the point, and he’d fire his second of the game.
The Raiders would continue to push, Dragicevic would fire a shot off the head of the goaltender that would stop his hat trick, and with four second left Aiden Oiring was denied on the doorstep after a great move from below the goal line. The Raiders would get another penalty in the final four seconds, meaning they wouldn’t get one more chance, and the Oil Kings would take the win.
FINAL: Raiders 4 – 5 Oil Kings, shots 15-10 Oil Kings, 41-32 Oil Kings overall
With the loss to the Oil Kings, the Raiders did not secure a playoff spot due to the Red Deer Rebels picking up a win themselves over Calgary. The Raiders will have a chance to clinch on the road Saturday night as they head to Swift Current to take on the Broncos.
