It’s been a rough past few weeks for the Prince Albert Raiders. The defending Western Hockey League Champions had lost eight straight games from December 14 to January 4. Seven of the games came in regulation.
After the team completed a Manitoba trip with a game in Winnipeg on Sunday, the Raiders would return home for three straight games. Two of which will come against favourable opponents in Red Deer and Prince George.
Leading up to that, the Raiders were trying to halt what has been a dismal stretch. To assure that would happen, Prince Albert’s offence came out to play and they picked up a 5-3 win on Sunday night.
One night prior, in a 6-3 win for Winnipeg, Owen Pederson scored two goals in the first 1:08 that chased Boston Bilous from the net. On Sunday, Keegan Karki was making his first start with Prince Albert. He ended up turning away 25 shots, but the game didn’t start well for him.
Just 1:19 into the game, Pederson was at it again as he scored his 16th of the season to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead.
Prince Albert would respond not long later. On the power play, Ozzy Wiesblatt tied the game at the 8:34 mark. However, the game didn’t stay tied for long as Pederson scored his second of the game and 17th of the season just 1:20 later.
The back and forth affair continued as Aliaksei Protas tied the game at the 13:01 mark as he scored his 21st of the campaign, which was a power-play goal.
Jesse Makaj started in net for Winnipeg and he turned away seven shots in the first. Karki also stopped seven as it was 2-2 after 20.
Reece Vitelli took over the midway frame. He scored his third goal of the season just 2:13 into the period to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead. Brayden Watts would make it 4-2 at the 4:45 mark and Prince Albert kept on coming. At the 9:18 mark, Vitelli scored his second of the period to give the Raiders a 5-2 lead, one they held into the third period. His second was also a man-advantage marker.
It was a tough period for Makaj who stopped just 11 shots in the second. Karki, meanwhile, went a perfect 10-for-10.
Cole Muir brought Winnipeg within two goals in the third, but that was as close as they would get. His fifth goal of the season was scored 14:19 into the frame.
Karki shut the door the rest of the way as Prince Albert snapped an eight-game losing streak. Winnipeg, meanwhile, lost their first game since December 17.
Winnipeg is still two points up on Prince Albert for the East Division lead. The ICE is 24-14-1 while Prince Albert is 21-14-4-1.
The ICE continues its nine-game homestand on Wednesday against Medicine Hat. Red Deer pays a visit to Prince Albert on Tuesday.
ICINGS:
- Prince Albert did a solid job on the power play as they went 3-for-7. Winnipeg, meanwhile, went 1-for-3.
- Sunday was Karki’s first win as a Raider and his ninth win overall this season. Jesse Makaj, meanwhile, is now 9-9.
- Pederson scored two goals on a second straight night for Winnipeg.
