By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders struggling to produce without their big names

Oct 7, 2016 | 5:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders are still missing some key names to start the season, and their numbers have shown it.

After getting shutout 2-0 by their biggest rivals on Thursday, the Raiders started the regular season with a 2-4 record and ranked 14th in the WHL in both goals for (2.67) and against (3.50).

The special teams haven’t been that special either. The Raiders’ power play is clicking at 11.5 per cent, scoring just three times while giving up two shorthanded goals. They’ve also only killed off 71.4 per cent of penalties.

Of course, there are two players the Raiders could sure use to help in many of those categories, puck moving defenceman Brendan Guhle and one of the most productive Raiders of all time in winger Reid Gardiner.

Guhle is one of three WHL players still with NHL teams and is set to play in the final pre-season contest with the Sabres on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Gardiner just played in the first AHL pre-season game with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Thursday, the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gardiner is tied for 10th all-time in Raiders goals with 106 in 262 games played.

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Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt also said it’s been a “work in progress” for the blue line with the absence of Jesse Lees, who scored 23 goals as a defenceman last year before graduating from the WHL.

Although it would be nice to have Gardiner and Guhle return, Hunt said the team’s focus is on their current group

“Let’s not discount the fact that those two guys [would bring] big positive impacts in our lineup, especially Gards in terms of his offensive ability. But we’re not sitting here waiting,” Hunt said. “I know the coaches. Speaking to them this morning, they’re diligent in their preparation and transferring that information so our players have a better understanding of exactly how we need to play in every situation to give us the opportunity to win.”

Should Gardiner return, that would force the Raiders’ management into a difficult situation, as they currently are already at the maximum of three 20-year-olds with the team in Austin Glover, Tim Vanstone and goaltender Rylan Parenteau.

“You look at that, and it’s a tough decision. We have to get down to three. We have 14 days from the time Gards arrives, if he arrives,” Hunt said. “Then we’re in a position there to get a good player or continue stockpile picks, depending on availability but some of that is our of our hands, as well.”

Parenteau, has a .895 save percentage in two appearances with the Raiders. That looks a lot worse than what it should be, after Parenteau was pulled in the 5-3 loss to the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday. He stopped 33 of 35 shots in the Raiders’ 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday.

But his goaltending partner Ian Scott was excellent in goal to start the season. He posted a .928 save percentage and appeared in five of the Raiders six games. Whether Scott’s play will force a Parenteau trade, especially if Gardiner returns, remains to be seen.

“I don’t know what it means to Rylan. When you look at our system, we have a platoon of goaltenders who can play real well,” Hunt said. “As well, we have a young prospect [Curtis Meger] who has a tremendous work ethic and is chomping at the bit to get his opportunity.”

Broncos on the docket, Brandon next week

The Raiders will wrap up a busy four-game week on Saturday with a contest against the Swift Current Broncos (4-2) in the Speedy Creek.

Next week, the Raiders have a home-and-home against the Brandon Wheat Kings Oct. 14 to 15, with the home leg happening on Oct. 15 at the Art Hauser Centre.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea