Raiders Fall to Oil Kings 3-2 in Overtime Thriller

UPDATE: In a heart-stopping overtime finish, the Prince Albert Raiders fell to the Edmonton Oil Kings, losing 3-2 in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats. The matchup, held on October 14, 2023, at the Art Hauser Centre, was crucial for the Raiders, who were chasing the Oil Kings just one point behind in the standings.

The Oil Kings struck first at 5:05 of the opening period when Lukas Sawchyn set up Adam Jecho, who netted his second goal of the season. However, the Raiders quickly answered back. At 15:29, Riley Boychuk scored, extending his point streak to nine games, as he capitalized on a turnover to fire a wrist shot past the Oil Kings’ goalie, tying the game at one.

After a tightly contested first period, the score was 1-1 with both teams registering 6 shots each. The second period saw the Raiders gain momentum, culminating in a spectacular goal from Benett Kelly at 14:20, marking his first WHL goal. The Raiders led briefly, but the Oil Kings responded swiftly with Joe Iginla scoring at 15:14, sending the teams into the final period tied at 2-2.

Despite dominating the shot count (22-15) overall, the Raiders struggled to convert on a power play opportunity late in the game. With less than four minutes remaining, a critical 5-on-3 chance was squandered as the Oil Kings’ defense held strong.

In a nail-biting overtime, the Oil Kings’ Ethan MacKenzie became the hero, scoring the game-winner off a wrist shot that hit the crossbar before finding the back of the net. This decisive goal came just moments into the extra period, sealing the Raiders’ fate.

FINAL SCORE (OT): Raiders 2 – 3 Oil Kings.

This loss snapped the Raiders’ impressive six-game winning streak, but they still remain undefeated in regulation at 7-0-2 after nine games, with only the Everett Silvertips matching their record without a regulation loss in the WHL.

The Raiders now have a week off to regroup before facing the Swift Current Broncos in their final game of a six-game homestand. Fans are eager to see if the Raiders can bounce back and continue their pursuit of the top of the standings.

Stay tuned for further updates as the Raiders aim to regain their winning momentum!