Tomas Mrsic had a point on all four goals the Raiders scored as they beat the Oil Kings 4-1. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

Raiders win 4-1, win 4 in a row

Mrsic dominance continues as Raiders route Oil Kings

Nov 17, 2024 | 9:01 AM

A big win for the Raiders on Friday snapped a 12 game winning streak of the visiting Tri-City Americans as well as extended the Raiders’ own win streak to three, and it set up a match Saturday night with the Edmonton Oil Kings that could get the Raiders into a playoff spot for the first time of the season. For the second straight night, Tomas Mrsic put on a dominant performance as the Raiders win 4-1 to take eighth in the Eastern Conference.

The game started at a break-neck pace, back and forth action with both teams displaying their speed. The Oil Kings scored first when Blake Fiddler put a puck towards the net and Cole Miller made a great tip to score the game’s first goal at 7:29.

The Raiders answered back quickly though, Doogan Pederson picked up an assist for the breakout pass, and Tomas Mrsic took the puck over the Oil Kings blueline and cut towards the left, drawing the defender with him as he dropped the puck into an open lane for Aiden Oiring. With a wide open look at the net, Oiring ripped a wrist shot on goal for his seventh of the season.

At 17:19, Mrsic and Oiring would connect again on the forecheck. Oiring took the puck away from the Oil Kings defence on the wall and sent the puck to the left side of the slot, and Mrsic wound up to the ceiling before unleashing a onetimer into the back of the net for his 12th of the season.

After 1: Raiders 2 – 1 Oil Kings, shots 11-8 Oil Kings

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No scoring in the second, but it was the most penalty filled period of the game. Krzysztof Macias and Harrison Lodewyk broke free for multiple 2-on-1 opportunities, but the two were either robbed by great saves or a back check that would take away the pass or the rebound.

The period would end with Justice Christensen in the box after a goal saving slashing call. The Raiders were caught in their own zone with a tired group on the ice, but they worked to try and clear the puck. Multiple clearing attempts were fanned on, blocked on the exit, or the Oil Kings would get a timely steal. Christensen took the slashing call right in front of his net with Oil Kings leading scorer Gracyn Sawchin cutting in tight.

After 2: Raiders 2 – 1 Oil Kings, shots 12-8 Oil Kings, 23-16 Oil Kings overall

The Raiders got their early penalty kill, and another one after Niall Crocker was sent to the box, but the Raiders got through them both and found some momentum, eventually drawing a frustrated interference call from Oil Kings defenceman Rhys Pederson.

On the man advantage, Macias scored his second goal in two games with a great faceoff play. Oiring won the draw back to Lukas Dragicevic, he sent it left to Mrsic, and Mrsic sent it through the slot to Macias on the right. Macias waited for the lane to open before shooting wide side to continue the Raider’s powerplay dominance at 7:29.

With three points on the night already, Mrsic added one more goal at 14:27. Again the play started with Oiring, this time on the rush as he worked his way into the zone on the left side, and he’d send it into the middle for Mrsic for another onetimer into the back of the net.

FINAL: Raiders 4 – 1 Oil Kings, shots 11-9 Oil Kings, 34-25 overall

Tomas Mrsic was the first star of the game during both nights and rightfully so. On Friday he scored his first career hat trick, and on Saturday he had a point on all four goals for 5G-2A-7P in those two games. In total, Mrsic’s point streak is seven games long, since the Raiders beat the Seattle Thunderbirds on October 25, and in that time he’s scored 7G-7A-14P in that time.

Max Hildebrand was great during the night, stopping 33 of 34 on the night for a 0.971 save percentage on the night, and a two game total of 71 saves on 75 shots or 0.947 per cent.

The Raiders next action is on Wednesday when they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers.