PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan (Interstat) — The Prince Albert Raiders scored four unanswered goals, two in each of the first two periods, to defeat the Red Deer Rebels 4-1 in Western Hockey League action Saturday night at Art Hauser Centre.

A crowd of 2,843 watched the Raiders improve their early-season record to 4-1, while the Rebels fell to 1-2.

The game’s outcome was heavily influenced by special teams and a second-period fracas that saw three players ejected. The Raiders capitalized on their opportunities, while the Rebels struggled to generate consistent offense beyond a single power-play marker.

Prince Albert set the tone early, striking twice in the opening period. Ty Meunier opened the scoring at the 3:56 mark, assisted by Jonah Sivertson. Sivertson then turned from passer to scorer, netting his first of the season with 6:10 remaining in the period, with an assist from Linden Burrett.

The Rebels showed a brief spark to start the second period. Just 31 seconds in, Matthew Gard cut the deficit to 2-1 on the power play, with Keith McInnis earning the assist.

The game’s complexion shifted dramatically midway through the period. At the 5:50 mark, a large scrum broke out resulting in multiple penalties. Red Deer’s Derek Thurston and Nolan Schmidt, along with Prince Albert’s Linden Burrett, were each assessed major penalties for fighting and ejected from the contest. Prince Albert’s Matyas Man also received a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct during the incident.

The Raiders weathered the penalty-filled stretch and re-established their two-goal lead late in the period. Ben Harvey scored at 17:42, assisted by Brayden Dube. Just 75 seconds later, Dube found the back of the net himself, with Riley Boychuk providing the helper, to make it 4-1.

A chippy third period saw no scoring, as the teams combined for six more minor penalties.

For the Raiders, the offensive effort was a balanced one. Ty Meunier led the way with a goal and an assist, registering five shots on goal. Jonah Sivertson also tallied a goal and an assist, while Brayden Dube matched their two-point effort with a goal and an assist of his own. Defenseman Linden Burrett contributed two assists before his ejection.

The Rebels’ lone bright spot was forward Matthew Gard, who scored their only goal but also took a minor penalty later in the contest. Defenseman Derek Thurston was a central figure in the second-period fight, earning seven penalty minutes in the game.

The loss continues a difficult start on the road for Red Deer, which fell to 0-2 away from home. The Rebels will look to rebound when they return home to host Lethbridge on Tuesday.

The Raiders, who were projected as strong favorites by Interstat’s game simulator and ELO rating system, will continue their homestand when they host Vancouver on Wednesday.