Ryder Ritchie and company celebrate a goal Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nolan Kowal

playoff push

Raiders on the cusp of playoff spot after win over Regina

Mar 21, 2024 | 12:30 AM

They’re on the finish line, and now they just have to cross it.

The Prince Albert Raiders took one step closer to a playoff spot Wednesday night, beating the Regina Pats 5-1 at the Art Hauser Centre.

Aiden Oiring led the way for the Raiders offensively, notching a pair of goals, while Ryder Ritchie had a goal and two assists.

With the win, the Raiders remain in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, four points ahead of the Calgary Hitmen. The Raiders play a home-and-home with the Saskatoon Blades to end the season this weekend, while the Hitmen do the same with the Swift Current Broncos.

The Raiders can clinch a playoff spot if they’re able to bank at least another single point in the standings this weekend, regardless of what Calgary does.

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The Raiders can also clinch if Calgary loses in any fashion this weekend.

If the Raiders were to lose both games to Saskatoon in regulation, and the Hitmen were to win both of their games over Swift Current, the Raiders and Hitmen would play in a winner-take-all play-in game next week to decide the final playoff spot. That is the only scenario in which the Raiders could still potentially miss the playoffs.

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com