The Raiders celebrate Brett Leason's goal in their 1-0 win on Wednesday over the Giants, putting them one victory away from winning the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series. (submitted photo/Rik Fedyck)

By Jeff D'Andrea

‘One game away’

May 10, 2019 | 2:03 PM

“Take it one game at a time.”

Every hockey head coach has used this phrase at least 50 times. Prince Albert Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid is no exception. He got a little mileage out of the phrase, even if he doesn’t want to believe it.

“So are you telling me I use a lot of clichés? Is that it?” Habscheid said with a smirk after Game 4. “Not me; you know me better than that.”

Regardless, there’s no better use for the phrase than right now for the Raiders than “take it one game at a time.”

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Friday night at the Langley Centre could very well be that “one game,” and the last WHL game the Raiders play this season. The Raiders could win the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series over the Vancouver Giants, as they have a 3-1 series lead.

“We’re still one game away. The great thing is, we’re only one game away,” Habscheid said. “But I’ve learned because I’m old as dirt, you can’t give games away — not at this level and not with this at stake.”

The Raiders do have three chances to end the series. Friday’s Game 5, Game 6 on Sunday at the Art Hauser Centre and Game 7 on Monday, also at the Art Hauser Centre.

It would be a sweet and fitting ending if the Raiders ended up winning on home ice, in front of the raucous Raider fans that have literally camped overnight to secure playoff tickets, and that have greeted the team early in the morning for send-offs and late at night for welcoming parties.

But Habscheid just wants to win.

“The series isn’t over. They’re a good team and there’s one to go,” Habscheid said. “The one thing for sure is, you don’t give games away. When you have a chance like this, you play it like it’s Game 7. You just want to end it as quick as possible.

“So for [Friday], that’s our Game 7.”

The Raiders have bought into that approach.

“It’s playoffs. It’s the WHL championship. If you can’t get ready for it, I don’t think you should be playing the game,” Raiders Captain Brayden Pachal said. “Obviously, every game in the series is important. We don’t want to give any games away. Game 5 is another game in the series, and we’re looking for the win.

Martin not ruled out

Raiders defenceman Max Martin hasn’t played in the series since the midway point of Game 2 at the Art Hauser Centre, as he left the game after crashing into the end boards during a puck pursuit.

Habscheid didn’t rule out a Martin return for Game 5.

“He is day-to-day and he’s real close,” Habscheid said.

Raiders rookie Loeden Schaufler took his place in the last two games, and affiliate player Brian Harris joined the team to make up the numbers for the Raiders.

Even strength has been all Raiders

Although the Giants’ power play has been outstanding throughout the playoffs (33.3 per cent) and very good in the series (26.6 per cent), they haven’t been able to manage many goals in even-strength situations against the Raiders.

Through the first four games of the series, the Giants have just three even-strength goals — all of which came in the Giants’ 5-4 victory in Game 2. The Raiders have given up just two total goals since then, both on the power play in their 8-2 victory on Game 3. Raiders goaltender Ian Scott shut the door with a 15-save shutout in Game 2 and a 36-save clean sheet in Game 4.

On the other side of the coin, the Raiders have 11 even strength goals and have outscored the Giants 17-7 in all situations this series.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW