Prince Albert Raiders advance to Western Hockey League final

Game recap

The Tigers took the first lead of the game when a puck dumped into the corner of the Raiders zone took a funny hop, and Andrew Basha was able to recover it. Out of the left corner, Basha made a great pass to a trailing Jonas Woo in the slot, and Woo fired for the game’s first goal at 13:29.

Just over two minutes later, the Raiders had an answer. at the 15:43 mark, Connor Howe carried the puck into the offensive zone and took a big hit, but managed to stay on his feet and pass to the right for Evan Smith. He fired a shot on goal but was stopped, and Riley Boychuk went digging for the rebound and his second of the playoffs.

After 1: Raiders 1 – 1 Tigers, shots 12-9 Tigers

With the Raiders on the penalty kill to start the period, the Tigers took the lead back at 1:15. A shot from Josh Van Mulligan at the right point was redirected in front by Noah Davidson into the back of the net, but that would be the Tigers final lead of the series.

Again, just over two minutes later, and the Raiders tied it. On their first powerplay of the game, Daxon Rudolph worked the puck to his right for Brock Cripps, and he sent it low for Braeden Cootes. He looked like he was about to go behind the net, but Cootes noticed a whole through a screen and instead fired fivehole for his sixth of the playoffs at 3:47.

Then the Raiders got their best luck of the night. Tigers goaltender Jordan Switzer came out of his net to play a puck out from behind, but he played it right to Daxon Rudolph on the wall. Rudolph put the puck to the front of the net, it bounced off a defender, and Rudolph’s ninth of the playoffs had given the Raiders their first lead of the game at 5:39. That goal would end Switzer’s night three goals allowed on just 13 shots.

The Tigers struck back in the period though on the rush at 8:31. This time it was Luke Cozens breaking down the right side wall when he fired on goal, and Michal Orsulak got a piece of with his stick, but it still snuck through fivehole.

The Raiders took the lead back though at 13:12, and from there they never let it go. On the powerplay again, Daxon Rudolph was able to get the puck to Braeden Cootes, and he worked it to the left wall for Aiden Oiring. He walked in with an open look at the net, and Oiring fired his seventh of the playoffs home to give the Raiders a 4-3 lead.

The Raiders then scored the next two goals in a row. At 17:59, Owen Corkish picked up an assist when Brayden Dube skated in on the rush down the right side wall on a 2-on-1, and Dube fired a picture perfect wrist shot under the bar for his sixth of the playoffs.

Then at the 19:27 mark, the Raiders had the cycle going and Linden Burrett passed to Braeden Cootes. From the high slot, Cootes sent a backhand towards the goal that Jonah Sivertson tipped in for his second of the playoffs and a big lead heading into the third.

After 2: Raiders 6 – 3 Tigers, 15-8 Raiders, 24-20 Raiders overall

With their season on the line, the Tigers came out swinging in the final period. At 2:20 on their third powerplay of the game, the Tigers scored off a cross ice onetimer for Kade Stengrim from the right side, making it a two goal game.

Then at the 6:59 mark, the Tigers scored again to bring themselves back to within one goal. Andrew Basha entered the zone down the left side wall with speed and curled around behind the net, then sent a pass back for Josh Van Mulligan at the right point who hammered home a onetimer, and suddenly the Tigers were a goal away from tying.

At 12:59 however, the Raiders got the all important game winner. Evan Smith and Linden Burrett both picked up assists, but Riley Boychuk did most of the work on a great play where he toe-dragged around a defender into the slot, lost his footing and fell to a knee, kept the puck, stood up, then fired it in for his third of the playoffs and second of the night.

The Tigers would pull their goaltender, but they wouldn’t score to make it a one goal game until far too late. Liam Ruck fired a onetimer home from the middle of the slot, but with only six seconds remaining in the game, the Tigers celebration looked defeated. One faceoff later, and the Raiders had sealed the deal and taken out the defending WHL Champions.

FINAL: Raiders 7 – 6 Tigers, shots 10-7 Tigers, 31-30 Raiders overall

by paNOW Staff

Prince Albert Raiders advance to Western Hockey League final

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