(Candice Ward/Calgary Hitmen)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders Hockey

Raiders’ playoff push looks better after great start on road trip, but two difficult games coming up

Feb 25, 2022 | 12:03 PM

As they continue their playoff push, the Prince Albert Raiders have started their five-game road trip with a pair of key victories to help their cause.

They defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 on Monday, before Raiders goaltender Tikhon Chaika shutout the Calgary Hitmen 1-0 on Wednesday by making 26 saves for his first WHL career clean sheet.

With the pair of wins, the Raiders have 41 points through 48 games, two back of the Hitmen for the final playoff spot. Seventh place is also now in striking range, as the Swift Current Broncos are just three points ahead of the Raiders (44) and have played two more games (50).

But with that said, the road trip starts to get much more difficult for the Raiders. They will take on the Red Deer Rebels (third in conference, 31-15-2-1) on Friday before matching up against the Edmonton Oil Kings (first in conference, 36-11-2-1) on Saturday.

The Raiders are a combined 2-8 against both sides so far this year, 1-4 against each of them. The Raiders beat the Rebels on Jan. 17, 7-3, but have lost the other four (2-1 Feb. 4, 8-6 Dec. 29, 5-1 Nov. 20, 4-2, Nov. 12).

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The lone Raiders victory over the Oil Kings was 5-2 back on Jan. 2, with the losses coming in their other matchups (5-2 Feb. 5, 4-1 Jan. 18, 6-3 Nov. 19, 4-2 Nov. 10).

No Thurston

Just before the Raiders defeated the Calgary Hitmen 1-0 on Wednesday, they learned they wouldn’t have the services of defenceman Trevor Thurston for five games. Thurston received the ban for his pair of major penalties he received at the end of Monday’s 4-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers.

With 30 seconds left in the game, Thurston ran into Tigers’ Brayden Boehm at the Raiders blueline, then got involved in the post-whistle scrum. Thurston received a charging major for the initial hit on Boehm, then another major penalty for a high cross check after the whistle.

After Friday’s game, Thurston will have three more games left on his suspension. He will be eligible to return on March 8 to face the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Art Hauser Centre.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW