RED DEER, Alberta (Interstat) — The Prince Albert Raiders erupted for four third-period goals to turn a close contest into a rout, defeating the Red Deer Rebels 7-3 in Western Hockey League action Saturday night at the Marchant Crane Centrium.

Facing a 3-2 deficit after two periods, the Raiders (18-8) dominated the final frame, scoring three times on the power play to decisively snap a two-game losing skid. The victory improved Prince Albert to 2-0 against Red Deer (10-17) this season.

The most important part of the game was a decisive sequence early in the third period that broke the game open. With the Rebels’ Grayden Peterson already in the penalty box for roughing, Red Deer’s Nate Yellowaga took a tripping penalty at 3:54, giving the Raiders a lengthy two-man advantage. Prince Albert defenseman Daxon Rudolph capitalized just eight seconds into the 5-on-3, blasting a shot past Rebels goaltender Peyton Shore to make it 4-2. Before the first penalty expired, Aiden Oiring scored another power-play goal at the five-minute mark, extending the lead to three and effectively sealing the outcome.

Prince Albert’s top star was defenseman Linden Burrett, who recorded three assists in a bounce-back performance after serving 10 penalty minutes in a loss Wednesday. His play helped key a Raiders offense that saw nine different players register a goal.

Jonah Sivertson opened the scoring for the Raiders just 3:33 into the first period. The Rebels responded with two quick goals, from Landon MacSwain at 10:25 and Yellowaga at 13:36, to take a brief 2-1 lead.

The Raiders evened the score early in the second on Maddix McCagherty’s goal and took their first lead at 9:43 when Ethan Bibeau netted his first of the season. The middle frame was marred by a series of coincidental minors, including four penalties assessed at the 10:23 mark.

After Rudolph and Oiring’s power-play goals widened the gap in the third, Max Heise made it 6-2 at 9:07, also on the man-advantage. Red Deer’s Matej Mikes temporarily interrupted the surge at 12:03, but Raiders center Owen Corkish closed the scoring with an even-strength marker at 19:37.

Shore, a Winnipeg native, made 31 saves in the loss for Red Deer. The Rebels were outshot 38-22.

The game was a stark reversal of pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 4-3 Rebels victory, though its ELO rating system gave Prince Albert a 64.7% probability to win.

Attendance was 4,423.

The Raiders, who entered the game having lost two straight by a combined score of 10-3, continue their road trip Sunday in Edmonton. The Rebels, who had won two of their last three, look to regroup when they visit Calgary on Dec. 12.