Raiders goaltender Tikhon Chaika will square up against Wheat Kings' Brett Hyland on Wednesday. (Submitted photo/Mark Peterson Media)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Raiders vs Wheaties

Seventh and eighth place within reach for Raiders; other scores to watch out for

Apr 1, 2022 | 12:00 PM

With six games remaining, the Prince Albert Raiders are three points out of a playoff race. They would absolutely love the two points on Friday as they take on the Brandon Wheat Kings in a rematch. The Wheat Kings are looking to guarantee themselves a spot as well in the playoffs, as they are in sixth place with 65 points.

The Raiders are now chasing the Lethbridge Hurricanes for the eighth spot in the WHL Eastern Conference playoff race. The Raiders have 55 points compared to the Hurricanes’ 58, but the Hurricanes have played in one less game than the Raiders (62-61).

The Raiders are also chasing the Swift Current Broncos, who bounced up to seventh spot with 59 points, but have played two more games than the Raiders.

The Raiders themselves are doing their best to avoid looking at the other scores around the league and just focusing on their own games, but that doesn’t mean that we have to take that approach.

The big game to look at is the Hurricanes’ hosting the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Tigers may be in last place in the league, but beating the Hurricanes would be a huge favour to the Raiders. Hopefully Raiders forward Ozzy Wiesblatt told his younger brother and Tigers young scorer Oasiz about that.

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The other matchup is the Swift Current Broncos hosting the Calgary Hitmen. This is a weird one as the Raiders are nipping at the Broncos’ heels, and a Broncos loss would make their chase easier. But the Hitmen are just one point back of the Raiders as well. The worst-case scenario would be if this game goes into overtime or a shootout, and three points are awarded for it instead of just the regular two.

The Regina Pats, who are two points back of the Raiders and will head to the Art Hauser Centre on Saturday, are taking on the conference best Winnipeg ICE at the Brandt Centre.

The only game in the Eastern Conference that does not have any Raider-related playoff implications tonight is the Saskatoon Blades taking on the Moose Jaw Warriors matchup, although Raider fans would likely be looking at the score of that game for other reasons.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW