The Kootenay Ice wanted to start their prairie road trip with a bang, and that's just what they did last night in Prince Albert.

Max Reinhart scored a season- and career-high four goals and Brett Teskey collected the second shutout of his rookie campaign in a 5-0 win over the 11-17-2-2 Raiders.

It was a game the Ice (20-7-1-2) had started with high intensity and energy.

"That's a bit surprising because it was a long bus ride (Monday). Coming in here, we wanted to set the tone for our road trip and start out strong and hopefully carry it on," said assistant coach Todd Johnson. "We talked about one of four, and we got the first one out of the way. We're very happy with our effort tonight."

Reinhart took double duty turns with the fourth line Wednesday, and it was with that unit that he opened scoring at 6:53. Brendan Hurley created a turnover at the P.A. blue line, led a 2-on-1, and Reinhart cashed in near the crease.

The Ice set a season high for shots on goal, directing 52 at Jamie Tucker.

For all of their pressure and good scoring chances, it was a fairly long shot that wound up making it 2-0. Reinhart collected his second of the game with a hard shot from just inside the blue line at 11:17.

"Tonight it was a 2-0 game and for the most part I thought we were carrying the play," said Johnson. "We weren't being rewarded with goals, but the guys stuck to it. When you stick to it, you are rewarded and that's why we ended up getting a lot more."

Teskey made 33 saves for his second win in a row against Prince Albert; he collected the W in a 6-1 drubbing on Nov. 20 in Cranbrook.

"When it was 2-0 for us, he made some key saves," said Johnson. "We had a couple of breakdowns and he made a great save on the penalty kill coming across. That's what you want to see. He hasn't played a lot of hockey as of late, and it was great to see he was focused and he battled."

Teskey did so despite some green and gold company in his crease.

"He's pretty calm back there," said Johnson. "I think that's one of the things that makes him so good, is he doesn't get rattled. It doesn't matter if guys are in front of him, if guys are pushing him. He's a focused individual."

The score remained 2-0 until the eighth minute of the third when Jesse Ismond led an odd-man rush into the Raiders' zone, and he passed to a trailing Steele Boomer, who redirected the puck top corner.

With the Ice largely scoring by committee this season, Kootenay had yet to record a hat trick this season. That changed when Reinhart scored on a power play at 10:10.

He joined the Ice pantheon by collecting his fourth of the night with a shot from the low slot. Reinhart has six goals in his last four games.

"We think he's been playing very well, and tonight the puck went in for him," said Johnson. " You're extremely happy for the guy, and you hope it keeps going in for him on this road trip."

Erik Benoit, playing in his first game in a month due to injury, collected his second helper of the night on the final goal. He actually has a two-game personal point streak going, having assisted back on Nov. 11 too.

Johnson said Benoit and Hurley did a good job of creating space for Reinhart.

"They bang and crash, and both opportunities there were races for pucks and they won the races and finished their checks, and that just opened up Max," said Johnson. "Benoit made a great pass on the last goal. It was good. Those two played very, very well."

Hurley did make the coaches anxious, engaging in a scrap at the final buzzer. The big winger is only six games back from a hand laceration he suffered during a fight on Oct. 22.

The Ice have three games in as many nights starting Friday in Moose Jaw. On Saturday they visit Brandon, then swing up to Saskatoon for a Sunday game.