Raiders keep playoff hopes alive; win 3-2 SO vs. EDM

With the Raiders’ shootout win, they’re now 12 points back of the Oil Kings for the second wild card spot, with nine games remaining.

The Raiders’ maximum points they can achieve is 71, leaving the Oil Kings, the Kootenay Ice (first wild card) and the Swift Current Broncos (third in the East Division) as the only mathematically eligible targets with playoff spots that the Raiders could pass.

Even if the Raiders win all nine of their remaining games, the Oil Kings can eclipse that 71-point mark by getting seven points in their remaining eight games. The Broncos could also shut the door on the Raiders’ WHL divisional playoff spot hopes with seven points in their remaining nine games.

The Kootenay Ice, who are in the first wildcard position, would ensure the Raiders couldn’t pass them with just three points in eight games. But before the Raiders beat those teams, they still have to leapfrog over the ninth place Moose Jaw Warriors, who are four points ahead of the Raiders.

“Looking at the points, it’s going to be tough but I think honestly, like I said, we can make a push and string some wins together and make things interesting,” said Glover. “We’re pretty positive. We realize the group of guys we have and the determination in one another. We definitely think we can make a push in the last nine games here, and make something happens.”

Oil Kings forward Brett Pollock scored a power play goal to kick off the scoring in the first period. Pollock had two PPG’s in the first period and total points in Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Raiders at Rexall Place.

Raiders defenceman Jesse Lees would tie the game early in the second just after an expired power play. Luke Bertolucci would get the go-ahead goal for the Oil Kings after a goal mouth scramble, before Austin Glover scored a worthy nominee for the WHL Top 10 Plays of the Week.

In a 4-on-4 situation, Glover stormed down the ice before getting dispossessed and falling down in the corner. In one motion, Glover was able to somehow regain the puck and get back to his feet, undress Oil Kings defenceman Ben Carroll before beating Jarry high on the glove side to tie the game at 2-2.

“(Carroll) was up on me pretty tight, standing still, so I thought I was just put it through him and see what happens,” said Glover. “It worked out, so I was pretty fortunate there.”

After a scoreless third and overtime, the game went to a shootout. Nobody scored until the sixth round when Raiders forward Craig Leverton finally broke the deadlock and scored the only goal of the shootout.

“Both goalies were playing tremendous and it seemed like no one was ever going to get one, so it felt nice when I saw the puck go in the net,” said Leverton. “It was a huge relief for the guys. We’ve been playing hard lately but couldn’t get the wins.”

Raiders goaltender Nick McBride then stopped Andrew Koep in the do-or-die shootout attempt to seal the Raiders’ fate. McBride stopped all six Oil Kings shooters he faced and made 29 stops on 31 shots in 65 minutes of play.

“He’s finding a way to keep pucks out and that’s all that matters,” said Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid. “At this point in time, your goaltender has to be your best player and he’s played well for us. He made the key saves in the shootout.

“To get that many saves in a row is tough to do, because they have some good shooters.”

Oil Kings goaltender Tristan Jarry was named the game’s first star, making 30 saves on 32 shots and another five in the shootout.

Home sticking

Tuesday’s game kicked off a five-game homestand for the Raiders, as they’ll take on the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday and Saturday against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

The Raiders will then make up for the Feb. 14 cancellation on Tuesday against the Regina Pats, before taking on the Swift Current Broncos on Friday.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders keep playoff hopes alive; win 3-2 SO vs. EDM

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