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Raiders forward Reece Vitelli works his way past Warriors defender Lucas Brenton. (Keith Hershmiller/WHL)
Raiders vs Warriors

Raiders look to break from the pack with win over Warriors

Apr 15, 2021 | 10:59 AM

In the WHL East Division, there are currently three teams tied with 15 points through 17 games.

Two of those teams will battle tonight to look to separate themselves from the pack, as the Prince Albert Raiders will battle against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The Raiders, Warriors and Regina Pats are all tied for the top wildcard spot. The Warriors have a 7-9-1 record while the Raiders and Pats have identical 6-8-2-1 records after the Raiders defeated the Pats 4-2 on Tuesday.

Like their records would suggest, the Warriors and Raiders have been evenly matched this season.

The Warriors beat the Raiders 2-1 in overtime back on March 14, before the Raiders responded with a win of their own on March 27. Although the Raiders skated away with a 5-2 victory that day, they scored two empty-net goals to inflate the scoreline.

Ozzy Wiesblatt had half of his goal total in the Raiders’ 5-2 win over the Warriors on March 27.

In fact, Wiesblatt hasn’t scored a goal in the eight games he’s played since then but is still very much producing as he has eight assists in those games. He’s also been a massive part of the power play, as five of those assists came with the man advantage.

Warriors captain Daemon Hunt has been a force against the Raiders this season, both on the scoresheet and in the rough stuff. Hunt scored the Warriors’ lone goal in the run of play on March 14, and assisted on one of their two goals on March 27. He was later ejected on March 27 after hitting Reece Vitelli up high in the third period—receiving a one-game suspension. He has not taken a penalty since.

The Raiders will be without defenceman Landon Kosior, who will serve his first of a three-game suspension tonight. Kosior was ejected from the Raiders’ 4-2 victory over the Regina Pats on Tuesday after hitting Zack Smith with a check to the head.

Tune in to CKBI for Trevor Redden’s call of the game.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW