Leavitt Machinery Preview – Eastern Conference Championship, Game 1 vs. Edmonton
RAIDER REVIEW: The Raiders open the 2019 Eastern Conference Championship tonight against the Edmonton Oil Kings in Game 1 at the Art Hauser Centre. In Round 2 of the WHL Playoffs, the Raiders eliminated the Saskatoon Blades with a 6-3 win in Game 6 of their series on Sunday afternoon at SaskTel Centre. Dante Hannoun had a hat trick in the series-deciding game to finish the round with seven goals and two assists. Parker Kelly, Sean Montgomery, and Aliaksei Protas also scored in the series-clinching win. Ian Scott made 19 saves to push the Raiders to their first Eastern Conference Championship since 2005. The Oil Kings reached the Eastern Conference Championship by sweeping the Calgary Hitmen. Jake Neighbours and Quinn Benjafield each had five points in the series.
VS. EDMONTON: The Raiders won the regular season series against the Oil Kings with a record of 3-1. The two teams split the meetings at the Art Hauser Centre during the 2018-19 campaign.
2018-19 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Nov. 28/18 at EDM | PA 6 EDM 3 | P. Kelly (2g-1a), T. Fix-Wolansky (3g), B. Leason (3a)
Dec. 12/18 at PA | PA 6 EDM 5 (OT) | N. Gregor (2g-2a), C. McDonald (1g-2a), C. Fonstad (1g-2a)
Feb. 1/19 at PA | EDM 6 PA 3 | T. Fix Wolansky (2g-1a), C. McDonald (2g), C. Fonstad (2g)
Feb. 4/19 at EDM | B. Leason (1g-2a), D. Hannoun (2a), P. Kelly (1g)
Power play: Prince Albert – 4/19; Edmonton – 4/16
Leading scorer: Prince Albert – Noah Gregor (2g-6a); Edmonton – Trey Fix-Wolansky (5g-2a)
POINTS LEADER: With his nine points in Round 2, Dante Hannoun is tied for the WHL Playoffs lead in scoring with 14 points. Through 10 games this post-season, the overager from Delta, BC has nine goals and five assists. He is currently tied with Davis Koch of the Vancouver Giants, who has two goals and 12 assists in 10 contests. For his efforts in Games 3 to 6, Hannoun was named the WHL On the Run Player of the Week with six goals and an assist.
CLOSE TO HOME: Parker Kelly has enjoyed success against the closest WHL team to his hometown of Camrose, AB. In 16 career games against the Oil Kings, the Ottawa Senators prospect has nine goals and nine assists. This post-season, Kelly is tied for fifth on the Raiders in scoring with four goals and three assists.
GOALTENDING DUEL: Ian Scott continues to be one of the best goaltenders in the WHL Playoffs. He leads the post-season with a 1.81 goals-against average and is second in the league with a 0.927 save percentage. At the other end of the rink, Dylan Myskiw holds the third-best goals-against average (1.93) and the third best save percentage (0.920) among goalies with more than 100 minutes played.
PLAYOFF DEBUT: Cole Nagy made his WHL Playoffs debut on Sunday afternoon in Game 6 against the Saskatoon Blades. Nagy had 26 goals and 39 assists in 44 regular season games with the SMHL’s Saskatoon Blazers.
NEXT UP: The two teams meet again on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre for Game 2 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Championship. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
