Raiders goaltender Max Paddock makes a blocker save on Broncos forward Michael Farren. Keith Hershmiller/WHL
Raider hockey

Allan gets perfect farewell present, Paddock paddles away pucks in Raiders win over S.C.

Apr 11, 2021 | 7:13 PM

Nolan Allan picked up a great parting gift, a Prince Albert Raider win in his final game in the Green and Gold this season.

Allan and his Raiders snapped a three-game winless streak with a 4-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos Sunday at in the Subway Hub Centre in Regina. It was Allan’s last game before he departs to represent Canada at the IIHF U18 World Championships.

With that, Allan will head home to quarantine for the tournament starting on April 26 in Frisco, Tex., leaving the hub centre, the dorms and the Brandt Centre behind.

“It was a different experience for sure, a first for everyone. It’s something to look back on,” Allan said. “We made some memories here, so that’s good.”

Raiders goaltender Max Paddock stopped 35 of 37 shots for the win, including one of the better saves you’ll see in the first period.

He also made a solid save on Michael Farren’s penalty shot in the second period.

Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid was thrilled to get that type of performance from Paddock, especially because Paddock’s numbers have been down from the high standards he’s set for himself throughout his career. Even with the 35-37 performance, Paddock’s save percentage is at .891, well below his .904 career average and the .935 he had for the Raiders last year.

“Your goaltender usually has to be your best player and he was tonight. That was a big difference with what’s been going on the last few games,” Habscheid said.

It was a weird game, as both teams drew penalty shots in the second period. Shortly after Farren was stopped by Paddock, Evan Herman also drew one for the Raiders. He was denied by Reid Dyck of the Broncos.

Michael Horon finally scored the game’s first goal 37 minutes into the game, the first time in his WHL career he’s scored in back-to-back games. Herman also scored in the third period, as he accomplished the same feat. Landon Kosior scored on the power play to make it a 3-1 game, giving the Raiders a man-advantage marker for their fifth straight game. Eric Pearce scored on the empty net.

Former Raider Cole Nagy and Broncos’ rookie standout Mathew Ward scored for the Broncos. Reid Dyck made 33 saves on 36 shots for the Broncos.

Scoring Summary

First Period

No scoring.

Second Period

1-0, Raiders, Michael Horon from Eric Pearce, 17:25

Third Period

1-1, Broncos, Cole Nagy from Aiden Bulych and Michael Farren (power play), 6:58

2-1, Raiders, Landon Kosior from Remy Aquilon and Spencer Moe (power play), 9:54

3-1, Raiders, Evan Herman from Spencer Moe, 12:03

3-2, Broncos, Mathew Ward from Aiden Bulych, 14:11

4-2, Raiders, Eric Pearce from Reece Vitelli and Ozzy Wiesblatt (empty net), 19:00

Up next

The Raiders will take on the Regina Pats on Tuesday at the Brandt Centre for an 8pm game. The Raiders are 1-1 against the Pats this year, with a 6-3 win to kick off the season March 12, and a 5-3 defeat on March 25.

The Pats will be without 15-year-old phenom Connor Bedard for the rest of the season, as he is off to join Canada for the IIHF Under-18 World Championship in Frisco, Tex along with Raiders’ Allan. Bedard leaves tied for the lead in the WHL with 28 points (with Winnipeg ICE’s Peyton Krebs) and in goals with 12 (with Edmonton Oil Kings’ Dylan Guenther.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

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