Raiders Fall Short Against Hitmen, Suffer Third Consecutive Loss

The Prince Albert Raiders faced their third consecutive defeat on the night of March 15, 2024, as they lost 3-2 to the Calgary Hitmen. Despite an early lead and controlling much of the game, the Raiders could not maintain their advantage, allowing the Hitmen to capitalize and secure the win.

Maddix McCagherty, a recent addition to the Raiders, made a notable impact early in the first period. At the 4:31 mark, he initiated a forecheck with teammate Jonah Sivertson, leading to a chance at goal. Although McCagherty’s initial shot was saved, a defenceman’s attempt to clear the puck inadvertently resulted in McCagherty’s first goal as a Raider and his seventh of the season.

The Raiders continued their momentum with a power play opportunity shortly thereafter. Daxon Rudolph skillfully maneuvered the puck to Brock Cripps at the right point, who then passed it to Riley Boychuk. Boychuk unleashed a wrist shot around a screen, scoring his fifth goal of the season at 7:04 and giving the Raiders a 2-0 lead. At the end of the first period, the Raiders led 2-0, outshooting the Hitmen 13-7.

In the second period, the Raiders maintained control but could not extend their lead. McCagherty nearly scored again with a powerful one-timer that struck the crossbar. The Hitmen’s defense, led by goalie Eric Tu, successfully kept the Raiders from finding the net despite multiple scrums in front of the goal.

With just under eight minutes remaining in the second period, the Hitmen struck back. Following a faceoff, Wyatt Pisarcyk fired a shot from the point that found its way past the Raiders’ defense, narrowing the score to 2-1 at the 12:09 mark. The shot count at the end of the second period stood at 22-17 in favor of the Raiders.

The third period saw the Hitmen equalize early, with Pisarcyk again involved. At 5:06, he delivered another point shot that was tipped by Kale Dach, leveling the score at 2-2. The Hitmen took the lead shortly after, capitalizing on a power play opportunity. Calder Hamilton, positioned at a sharp angle, surprised Raiders’ goalie Orsulak with a low shot at 9:30, giving the Hitmen a 3-2 advantage.

As the game progressed, both teams played a clean, disciplined match, with few penalties. The Raiders continued to press for an equalizer, creating several chances, but Tu stood firm in goal, denying their efforts. The final score settled at 3-2 in favor of the Hitmen, with the Raiders outshooting their opponents 31-23 overall.

With this loss, the Raiders now face a challenging situation, having dropped three straight games after a strong start to the season. They will look to rebound in their next match against the Red Deer Rebels, scheduled for March 16, 2024, at 19:00 local time, with the pregame show commencing at 18:30 on Brandt Raider radio.