Playoffs or playoff purgatory?

With two weeks, 6 games, to go, the Raider and Lethbridge remain tied for the eighth and the final playoff spot in the WHL East. Regina is hanging tough just three points off the pace heading into Wednesday's crucial showdown with the Raiders at the Art Hauser Centre. Not so long ago these three teams were part of a larger battle with Edmonton, Brandon and Swift Current for the final three playoff spots.

The Oil Kings and Brandon have pulled away from the pack and are in their own battle for sixth and seventh – Edmonton leads the Wheat Kings by one point – while the Broncos have fallen out of the race having just ended an eight game losing streak. Their win in Calgary on Saturday was just their second in the last 17 games. Swift Current is six points back with six games to go.

The Raiders appeared ready to pull away with three wins in four games culminating with a 3-2 victory in Moose Jaw on Feb. 19, but have lost four of the last five, including Saturday's 4-2 setback against Kootenay in front of a sell-out crowd at the Art Hauser Centre.

The game was decided by Ice goalie Nathan Liewen who made many sensational stops among his 33 saves, 14 of which came in the third period. A questionable penalty call on Nathan Deck with less than two minutes left killed any chance the Raiders had of counting the tying goal. Kootenay would get an empty netter on the power play in the final minute. However, if the Raiders can duplicate that kind of effort in their final six games, their chances of making the playoffs for the first time in four seasons are good. Meanwhile it appears P.A. has the most favourable schedule of the three potential playoff amigos.

Prince Albert (6)
Home (3): Regina, Edmonton, Swift Current
Away (3): Brandon, Calgary, Swift Current

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Lethbridge (6)
Home (3): Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, Kootenay
Away (3): Calgary, Edmonton, Kootenay

Regina (6)
Home (2): Moose Jaw, Saskatoon
Away (4): Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Saskatoon

The Raiders have recalled 2010 first round pick and WHL ready defenseman, Josh Morrissey, now that his Calgary Midget AAA team has been eliminated from the playoffs. He is now a permanent Raider and has the promise of a franchise player to be built around. Coach and GM Bruno Campese said ice time is not guaranteed but based on his only other appearance against a very good Medicine Hat team, you have to figure Morrissey will get a chance to play.

Meanwhile 16-year-old goalie, Brendan Fiebelkorn, made quite a WHL regular season debut. The prospect from Winnipeg made several great saves while stopping all 14 shots he faced in the third period of the Raiders 5-3 loss in Moose Jaw. Fiebelkorn has also become a favourite in the dressing room because of his work ethic in practice.

He is back with his Midget AAA Winnipeg Hawks with the return of Jamie Tucker to active duty. The 19-year-old has been cleared to play after missing four weeks with a severely cut thumb. He was injured in a goalmouth collision with Regina Pats captain, Garrett Mitchell. Tucker was playing the best hockey of his career at the time. However 19-year-old winger Charles Wells has suffered a shoulder separation.

Those will be among topics on Monday's face off program (6 p.m. on 900 CKBI & 900ckbi.com). We will also talk with Dale Hawerchuk who is the guest speaker for the May 13 Sportsman’s awards dinner in the Ches Leach lounge. On that topic we are accepting nominations for the 900 CKBI/Kinsmen Male and Female athletes of the year and Sportperson of the year. They can be emailed to dwilson@rawlco.com, faxed to (306) 764-1850 or delivered to the broadcast centre.

dwilson@rawlco.com