Raiders forward Reece Vitelli takes the team's third and final shot against the Brandon Wheat Kings back on Oct. 29. (Submitted Photo/Mark Peterson Media)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders Hockey

Raiders ready for three games in Manitoba this weekend

Mar 25, 2022 | 12:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders are knocking on the door of the WHL Eastern Conference playoff spots with 10 games remaining in their season.

The Raiders are in ninth place, two points back of the Swift Current Broncos for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Broncos have played three more games than the Raiders (61 to 58). The Raiders are also just three points back of the Lethbridge Hurricanes who are in seventh place with 56 points.

The Raiders’ push for the playoffs continues in Manitoba for a busy weekend as the Raiders will play three times in as many nights. They’ll take on the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday, before a pair of games against the Winnipeg ICE, who have taken sole possession of first place in the WHL Eastern Conference.

The Raiders are 2-1-0-1 against the Wheat Kings this year, but the Wheat Kings have struggled as of late. They have lost all of their last six games in regulation, which the team hasn’t done since the 2010-11 season. The Wheat Kings have been banged up as of late. They entered the week with five players on the injury report, including star Ridly Greig and two players serving suspensions.

After Friday’s game, the Raiders’ opponents will be on the opposite scale. The ICE have won their last nine games and have an 11-1-1 record in their last 13. That one overtime loss came at the hands of the Raiders on March 5, when Nolan Allan scored the extra-time ending goal for the 3-2 victory.

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In fact, despite the fact the ICE are the top-ranked team in the WHL and can’t stop winning games at the moment, the Raiders have had a good deal of success against them this year. The Raiders are 3-2-1 against the ICE, only the Edmonton Oil Kings, who are second in the WHL Eastern Conference, have a better record against the ICE this year (3-1).

Check out CKBI for calls of the game with Rob Mahon. Game times start at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday’s game starting at 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW