By Jeff D'Andrea

Pre-game thoughts for Raiders-Hitmen tonight

Nov 5, 2014 | 2:50 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders (8-9) will take on the Calgary Hitmen (8-8-0-1) for the first time this season. Both teams have very similar records and are both currently ranked fourth in their respective divisions.

The Hitmen did have the Raiders’ number last year, posting a 3-1 record against them.

Here are some things to think about during tonight’s game.

Responding to the new coach(es)

In the two games since the Raiders fired Cory Clouston, they have answered very well offensively.

Court proceedings

Drugs and weapons bust in Stanley Mission, results in two year sentence

13h ago

health care

La Loche recipient of new portable blood analyzer, printer kit

15h ago

Crime

Dangerous driving report at Red Wing, leads to arrest of man with gun

18h ago

Including Friday’s 6-3 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors under interim head coach Dave Manson and Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Saskatoon Blades in Marc Habscheid’s Raiders debut, the Raiders have outscored their opposition 11-5 and averaging 5.5 goals per game.

It is a small sample size, for sure, but that two-game explosion rose the Raiders goals for average on the season from 2.67 to 3.00.

Leading from the back

Habscheid said he wanted the defence to be more engaged offensively and certainly got his wish in his debut Saturday.

The Raiders defencemen scored the first three goals of the game courtesy of Josh Morrissey, Sawyer Lange and Tomas Andrlik. Nine of the 15 points the Raiders scored in the game came from the blueline as well.

Not included in those totals is Mackenze Stewart’s goal. Although he’s a natural defenceman, Stewart has been playing on the team’s third forward line in recent games since the Raiders went down to 11 healthy forwards.

Seven and eight doing great

The Raiders are getting key contributions from across their roster, especially defenceman Sawyer Lange (No. 7) and forward Craig Leverton (No. 8).

Despite playing from the blueline, Lange has a four-game point streak going. He has seven points in that span with two goals and five assists. Four of those points came in his last game Nov. 1 against the Saskatoon Blades, a career high for him.

Leverton has also been quite hot, with two goals and two assists in his last two games.

Both are tied for the Raiders point lead with 16 points in 17 games played. Leverton leads the team in goals with nine, while Lange has the most assists among Raiders with 13.

‘Loch,’ Stock and Barrell

Prince Albert’s Loch Morrison will play in the Art Hauser Centre as a visitor for the second time in his career as a member of the Calgary Hitmen. His first game came Jan. 7 last season.

Morrison played his last two years with the Prince Albert Mintos, winning a Telus Cup with them in Moose Jaw last season.

Home cookin’

Wednesday’s game against the Hitmen is the Raiders’ second in a five-game homestand. They still have home contests Friday against the Seattle Thunderbirds, Nov. 12 against the Regina Pats and Nov. 14 against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre for each game.

All games will be broadcasted live on 900 CKBI, with coverage starting at 6:30 p.m.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea