Raiders explode in the third to put away the Cougars

The Prince George Cougars were competitive for a couple of periods but the Prince Albert Raiders were as good as advertised.

Speed, a strong transition game and a well-balanced scoring attack helped the CHL top-ranked Raiders post a
6-2 victory over the Cougars before 2,405 fans at CN Centre.

Watch the highlights here.

14 of the 18 Prince Albert skaters picked up at least a point and no player had more than two.

The game was even 2-2 by the midway point of the game but just after that Aliaksei Protas notched the winner, just nine seconds into a power play, at 10:51 of the second period.

The Raiders would go on to dominate the third with three unanswered goals.

Jackson Leppard (late in the first) and Mike MacLean (early in the second) tallied for the Cougars, who are 2-1 on a six-game homestand.

WHL Goalie of the Week Taylor Gauthier made 43 saves as the Raiders outshot the Cats 49-25.

RECAP: Cougars suffer first home loss in. 2019, dropping 6-2 decision to the Prince Albert Raiders. | #NorthernUprising #WHL

? https://t.co/eVbswdinAg pic.twitter.com/pMsZ6sqIxG

— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 17, 2019

The 16-23-1-2 Cougars are sitting in the second and final wild-card playoff spot, a point ahead of the (15-21-4) Seattle Thunderbirds and two in front of the (15-23-2-1) Kamloops Blazers.

Prince George is also just three points behind the (17-22-3-1) Kelowna Rockets, who are third in the B.C. Division.

The Rockets losing streak reached six games after they dropped a 5-1 decision to the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors Wednesday.

The Cougars host Kamloops Saturday night and Sunday afternoon after the Blazers entertain the (38-5-0-1) Raiders on Friday.

SCORING SUMMARY

First Period

Raiders [1-0] Sean Montgomery (19) from Brett Leason 7:06
Raiders [2-0] Parker Kelly (21) from Spencer Moe and Zack Hayes 11:11
Cougars [2-1] Jackson Leppard (9) from Brendan Boyle and Josh Curtis 16:46

Second Period

Cougars [2-2] Mike MacLean (4) from Ryan Schoettler and Rhett Rhinehart 2:40
Raiders [3-2] Aliaksei Protas (8) from Sean Montgomery and Ozzy Wiesblatt 10:51 (PP)

Third Period

Raiders [4-2]  Cole Fonstad (17) 4:50
Raiders [5-2] Justin Nachbaur (11) from Jakob Brook and Sergei Sapego 7:39
Raiders [6-2] Noah Gregor (27) from Sergei Sapego and Max Martin 15:08

GOALTENDING

Cougars- Taylor Gauthier (Loss) 43/49
Raiders- Ian Scott (Win) 23/25

POWER-PLAY

Cougars- 0/3
Raiders- 1/6