By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders win the battle of the two princes to start B.C. trip

Jan 16, 2019 | 10:50 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders started their B.C. road trip on a positive note as they won the annual battle of the two princes, defeating the Prince George Cougars 6-2 at the CN Centre in P.G.

For the Raiders, that’s their third straight victory, bringing them up to a WHL and CHL best 38-5-0-1 record on the season. The Cougars, who had won four of their previous five games before meeting the Raiders, were saddled with the loss and fall to 16-23-1-2.

The Cougars weathered the early storm and had tied it 2-2 at the beginning of the second period, but the Raiders ran away with it from there. They scored the last four goals to win the game.

“It was a work in progress in those first two periods. I mean, we got up 2-0 and then all of a sudden, it just kind of seemed like we thought it was going to be easy,” Raiders assistant coach Jeff Truitt said. “They’re an energized group and they work hard. They come back and it’s 2-2.

“Thank goodness we get that third goal, it was up for debate at that point in time. Between the second [and third] period, it was a situation of which way do we want to play? Do we want to keep them interested, or do we want to play the way we know how to play? The guys answered the bell in the third period.”

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Martin back in PG

For Raiders defenceman Max Martin, this was the first time he visited the team that drafted him since coming over to the Raiders in the Brenden Guhle trade back on Nov. 18, 2016. 

Martin won’t soon forget that day.

“I’d put it up there with one of the craziest days of my life, for sure,” Martin said. “I was lying in bed, having my pre-game nap when I was supposed to play that night against Prince Albert. I got a call, saying I was traded but I couldn’t tell anyone. I had to go to the rink, as a part of the Cougars and after the game and after the news would be broken, I’d be with the Prince Albert Raiders.

“It was a whirlwind of a day, but I’m happy where I am now.”

Three players on the Cougars battled against their former club on Wednesday. Defencemen Rhett Rhinehart and Austin Crossley were traded from Prince Albert to Prince George last season in the Kody McDonald deal. 

Cougars forward Josh Maser is technically a former Raiders player. Maser played in one game to start the 2015-16 season before the Raiders traded him off for Adam Kadlec.

Lucky 13

Because it’s a Wednesday, the Prince Albert Raiders were once again named as the top-ranked team in the KIA CHL Weekly Top 10 Rankings. That marks the 13^th straight week the Raiders take the top spot.

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL are the second-ranked team, with a 35-7-0-1, two wins behind the Raiders.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Raiders, Sean Montgomery from Brett Leason, 7:06

Brett Leason hustles to pick up the loose puck, and slides it over to Snipin’ Sean Montgomery who makes it 1-0 Raiders, 7:06 into the first. pic.twitter.com/nWqyty1dRO

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 17, 2019

2-0, Raiders, Parker Kelly from Spencer Moe and Zack Hayes, 11:11

Wheel, snipe, Kelly boys. Parker Kelly slides through the Cougars defence (including ex-Raider Rhett Rhinehart) and makes it 2-0 Raiders, 11:11 into the first period. pic.twitter.com/zqJ0EndxpK

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 17, 2019

2-1, Cougars, Jackson Leppard from Brendan Boyle and Josh Curtis, 16:46

Weird play here but the Cougars will sure take it. Jackson Leppard scores after some miscommunication between Hayes and Scott, 2-1 Raiders, 16:46 into the 1st. pic.twitter.com/8e3qA8ZWlZ

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 17, 2019

Second Period

2-2, Cougars, Mike MacLean from Ryan Schoettler and Rhett Rhinehart, 2:37

Mike MacLean ties it up for the Cougars, 2-2, 2:37 into the 2nd period. Ex-Raider Rhett Rhinehart gets secondary assist on the play. pic.twitter.com/I8hjlyAnRr

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 17, 2019

3-2, Raiders, Aliaksei Protas from Sean Montgomery and Ozzy Wiesblatt, 10:51

The Viper of Vitebsk puts the Raiders back up 3-2 on the power play. Ozzy Wiesblatt, to Sean Montgomery, to Aliaksei Protas on a nice play with the man-advantage. pic.twitter.com/Qwd5FBAGOD

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 17, 2019

Third Period

4-2, Raiders, Cole Fonstad (unassisted), 4:50

Cole Fonstad scores from below the goal-line, off of Rhett Rhinehart and into the net. 4-2 Raiders, 4:50 into the third period pic.twitter.com/F8cp2vcwKq

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 17, 2019

5-2, Raiders, Justin Nachbaur from Jakob Brook and Sergei Sapego, 7:39

The Cougars don’t like it, rock the Nachbaur. Justin Nachbaur’s backhand makes it 5-2, 7:39 into the third period. pic.twitter.com/hIGH6UBWVY

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 17, 2019

6-2, Raiders, Noah Gregor from Sergei Sapego and Max Martin, 15:08

Noah Gregor with an emphatic finish to make it 6-2, great feed from Sergei Sapego. Raiders taking over here in the third. pic.twitter.com/O3iiEVY106

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) January 17, 2019

‘Cheeseburgers all the way’

Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid sure likes his road trips, as it’s an excuse to slam down some delicious cheeseburgers.

He’ll get his wish for the next two weeks, as the Raiders still have five more games in their B.C. road trip. This weekend, the Raiders will play the Kamloops Blazers on Friday, the Kelowna Rockets on Saturday. Next week, the Raiders will head to Victoria to play the Royals on Tuesday, then the Vancouver Giants on Thursday before wrapping it up with the Kootenay ICE on Saturday.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW