WHL recap: Raiders defense comes through; Silvertips escape with OT win in Kent; Rockets hold off Blazers

Prince Albert 5 Brandon 2

The blue line for the Prince Albert Raiders (23-23-9-2) is not necessarily known for producing a ton of offense. There are no d-men in the top-six in scoring for the team.

They stepped up to provide some key offensive plays on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre though in a 5-2 win over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings (30-22-3-2).

Vojtech Budik led the way as the game’s number one star, with a key goal and Sergei Sapego, Max Martin and Brayden Pachal all had primary assists. The Raiders came into the night six points back of Saskatoon and closed to within four with their effort and the Blades loss to Lethbridge.

The Raiders came out firing and scored twice in the first 6:47 of the game. Sergei Sapego set up the first marker with a nice hard shot at Brandon goalie Logan Thompson’s pad. Brett Leason found the rebound quickly and backhanded the puck by Thompson.

P.A. then made the game 2-0 off another great play by one of their blue lines. Max Martin broke up a pass nicely at the Brandon blue line and got the puck to Jordy Stallard, storming down the right wing. Stallard fired a cross-crease pass over to Regan Nagy and it was 2-0 Raiders.

Brandon cut into the lead with about four minutes left in the first, thanks to a great effort from d-man Schael Higson. He kept the puck in along the boards at the blue line and got it over to Gunnar Wegleitner, who swiftly got it right back to him for the redirect by P.A. goalie Curtis Meger. The goal was Higson’s first since December sixth.

The Raiders then had the bulk of possession in the second period and outshot the Wheaties 11-2, but could not add to their lead.

They would do just that in the early going of the third though. a broken up pass came right out to an open Zack Hayes. The defensive-d-man powered home his third this year for the 3-1 lead.

Brandon would answer right back and keep this one close. Evan Weinger found a loose puck in traffic and backhanded a pass over to Ty Lewis for his 31st this year.

The great night from their blue line kept going 3:30 later. The puck caromed around off a dump-in from Parker Kelly, out to Vojtech Budik in the high slot. The Buffalo Sabres prospect teed up a blast that beat Thompson and reinstated the Raiders two-goal lead.

Kody McDonald added a marker with under five minutes left to seal the 5-2 win.

The Wheaties now have lost three straight.

The two teams finish their home-and-home weekend set on Saturday in Brandon.

Kelowna 2 @Kamloops 1

With Victoria falling 4-3 to Red Deer at home, there was an opportunity for the Kelowna Rockets (35-18-4-1) to pick up an important two points in Kamloops (26-28-1-3) and take over first place in the B.C. Division. Thanks to two big goals from Dillon Dube, they did just that.

He started the scoring on the power play, 4:15 into the game and after Montana Onyebuchi tied it a couple minutes later, he won it with 7:58 left in the second.

The Rockets then held on thanks to 20 saves over the final two periods and 28 of 29 overall by goalie Brodan Salmond. Cal Foote also chipped in two assists.

Dylan Ferguson turned away 25 of 27 in the loss.

Kelowna hosts Edmonton Saturday, while Kamloops will invite the Prince George Cougars.

 

Everett 4 @Seattle 3 (OT)

The Everett Silvertips (37-17-2-2) went into Kent on Friday night and seemed to be well on their way to a victory over their rivals theĀ Seattle Thunderbirds (27-20-7-2). They led 3-1 late in the second period, when Sean Richards hit Seattle defenseman Jarret Tyszka from behind. The immediate result was a near line brawl. Then we saw penalties assessed and Richards given a five minute major and a game misconduct for the hit.

Austin Strand scored on the long power play to close the gap and Turner Ottenbreit completed the comeback with a marker midway through the third.

Unfortunately for Seattle, Bryce Kindopp went to work on young defenseman in overtime and spun away into some space. His backhand appeared to be stopped by Seattle goalie Liam Hughes. The puck somehow got by his right pad though and gave Everett the extra point.

Seattle did earn one point though and builds their lead over Kamloops for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference to seven points. Kamloops has 14 games let, while Seattle has 16.

Garrett Pilon had two goals, Kevin Davis had a goal and an assist and Riley Sutter had two assists in the Everett win.

Carter Hart stopped 30 of 33, while Hughes turned away 38 of 42.

Seattle now leads the season series 3-2-1.

T-birds have lost five of six and four straight.

‘Tips have lost only once in regulation in their last 11 games.

The two teams play again Saturday night in Everett.