Prince Albert 8 @Lethbridge 2
The Prince Albert Raiders (24-25-9-2) needed to make a bit of a statement. They had lost five of six recently, all to divisional opponents and were starting a three-game road trip through Alberta. They did just that on Wednesday night, rolling past the Lethbridge Hurricanes (29-25-6-0) 8-2 in Lethbridge.
Justin Nachbaur scored twice and added an assist, Cole Fonstad had a marker and two assists and Sergei Sapego, Brett Leason, Sean Montgomery, Parker Kelly and Kody McDonald all chipped in two points apiece.
The Raiders got all over Lethbridge goalie Reece Klassen in the first, notching three goals. Leason scored just 16 seconds in to set the pace and Montgomery added a marker to make it 2-0 under two minutes in.
After Jadon Joseph scored his second goal in three games and eighth this year, Nachbaur potted his first of the game to make it 3-1 after 20 minutes.
The ‘Canes fought back in the second, out shooting the Raiders 19-9, but they could not get a puck by Raiders goalie Ian Scott. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect stopped 35 of 37.
Curtis Miske made the score 4-1 with his 20th of the year and Fonstad stretched the lead out to four goals after netting his 18th.
Logan Flodell stayed on the ‘Canes bench to start the third, which was a surprise to many. He did not stay there long though as after McDonald and Nachbaur scored in the first five minutes of the final frame, Klassen was pulled. He have up seven goals on 27 shots.
Sapego greeted Flodell with his second of the year and first since October 17th to make the score 8-1.
Another former Tri-City American Keltie Jeri-Leon made it a little more respectable with his seventh of the year and sixth since being acquired from Tri-City in early January.
Lethbridge was zero-for-seven on the power play, while P.A. was one-for-five. Lethbridge had three of those chances in the second, but could not convert.
The Raiders continue their trip in Red Deer on Friday, while Lethbridge hosts Brandon.
