Key Takeaways:
- This weekend, the Winnipeg Ice won again at Wayne Fleming Arena, as they had done for much of the Western Hockey League season.
- Lambos intercepted a Raiders pass and threw it to Jakin Smallwood, who snatched it and raced it through Chaika’s five-hole. The score is 2-0 in favor of the home team.
- Shortly after the 4-1 goal, Conor Geekie picked up a stray puck off the far boards and split the Raider defense to make it 5-1.
Despite their lack of a leading scorer, the Winnipeg Ice finished the weekend at Wayne Fleming Arena as they had done for much of the Western Hockey League season: winning.
Saturday’s victory over the Prince Albert Raiders was far more lopsided than the 3-1 victory on Friday. Thanks to that win, the Ice now has a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
In a 5-2 triumph, the Ice got goals from five different players.
It didn’t take long for the Ice to get their name on the scoreboard.
Also read: For areas of Manitoba, rain and winter storm warnings have been issued
Carson Lambos slid a pass over the blueline to Nolan Orzeck, who beat Raiders goaltender Tikhon Chaika with a wrister. Just before the midway point of the 1st session, the Ice took a 1-0 lead.
Lambos started another eventual scoring play a few minutes later. Lambos intercepted a Raiders pass and handed it to Jakin Smallwood, who ran it through Chaika’s five-hole. 2-0 for the home team.
Less than two minutes later, Prince Albert slowed Winnipeg’s momentum. Landon Kosior snuck one past Daniel Hauser for his first postseason goal.
On the other hand, the Ice got the final laugh in the first period, with only four seconds remaining on the clock.
Owen Pederson scored his second goal of the playoffs, deflecting in a point shot from Ben Zloty’s stick. Winnipeg went into the locker room with a two-goal advantage.
Just 2:10 into the second period, Zach Benson added to Winnipeg’s advantage.
Benson sped around the Prince Albert net and snuck a wrist shot past Chaika from an awkward angle. Carson Lambos re-started the play, picking up his third-night assist.
In the neutral zone, Conor Geekie pulled up a loose puck off the far boards shortly after the 4-1 goal and split the Raider defense to make it 5-1.
Throughout the first 2 periods, both sides engaged in numerous scrums following the whistle.
For the Ice, Zach Benson and Jack Finley were particularly active.
By the end of the 2nd period, Winnipeg had outscored Prince Albert 25-13.
Early in the third period, Prince Albert’s Reece Vitelli found the scoresheet for the second time this playoff. This put an end to the scoring for the remainder of the game.
Game 3 of the series will be played at 7 p.m. central time on Tuesday in Prince Albert.
Game 4 will occur on Wednesday night.
If a 5th match is required, it will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday at the University of Manitoba.
Source: Global News
Get Canada and Manitoba’s top News, Market news, and other worldwide news only on Manitoba Daily.
