Game Preview: February 4 vs Calgary
SETTING IT UP:
The Prince Albert Raiders (37-7-4-0) begin a four game homestand tonight as they welcome the Calgary Hitmen (26-13-6-1) to the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders split a weekend home and home with the Saskatoon Blades, and have a four point lead on the Medicine Hat Tigers for first place in the Eastern Conference. Aiden Oiring scored the game winning goal with 8:10 left in the third period on the powerplay, assisted by Max Heise and Daxon Rudolph. The Hitmen also beat the Blades, winning by a commanding 7-1 final at SaskTel Centre last night. With the win, Calgary took sole possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 59 points.
HEAD TO HEAD:
The Raiders will look to pick up their first win of the season over the Hitmen. Prince Albert is 0-1-1-0 in two meetings so far. They fell 3-2 in overtime on October 31st at the Art Hauser Centre, and 3-2 in regulation at the Saddledome on December 5th.
BASS SHINES IN SUNDAY WIN OVER BLADES:
It was a battle of the goaltenders on Sunday at SaskTel Centre, and Raiders netminder Steele Bass came out on top. He stopped 26 of 27 shots in Prince Albert’s 3-1 win, receiving third star honours as a result. Gardner was exceptional as well in goal for the Blades, as he stopped 45 of 47 shots, with the Raiders adding an empty net goal. Gardner was named the game’s first star. In nine starts this season, Bass owns an 8-1-0-0 record, with a 1.56 GAA and a .922 SV%.
PLAYOFF CLINCHING SCENARIO:
The magic number is one point. The Raiders can become the first WHL team to clinch a playoff spot tonight. All they have to do is either beat the Hitmen or lose in overtime.
UPCOMING MILESTONES:
Justice Christensen: 1 goals away from 50
Daxon Rudolph: 3 points away from 100
Maddix McCagherty: 5 points away from 100
Aiden Oiring: 3 games away from 250
UP NEXT:
It’s a busy weekend for the Raiders, as they play a pair of home games on Friday and Saturday. It’s parent/billet weekend as well, starting on Friday as they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and wrapping up on Saturday with a game against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
