Hayden Pakkala gets ready to shoot against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Dec. 7, 2022. (Mark Peterson Media)

By Logan Lehmann

Gameday Preview

Wheat Kings visit Raiders for final time this season

Mar 7, 2023 | 12:00 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders (25-31-3-0) are still chasing a playoff spot and look to move up in the standings against the Brandon Wheat Kings (23-28-8-0) tonight.

The Wheat Kings are also battling to keep their playoff hopes alive as they sit just one point ahead of the Raiders in the Eastern Conference standings. The Wheaties have struggled defensively since then having been outscored 14-3 in their past two games. Brandon is also 3-6-1-0 in their past 10 games.

Despite being near the bottom of the standings, Prince Albert’s playoff hopes are very much alive entering tonight’s matchup. But with just nine games left on the schedule, time is running out for the Raiders. Thankfully PA has been stringing some wins together but have been on a skid as of late, falling in their last two games with losses against Lethbridge and Moose Jaw. The Raiders are 6-4-0-0 in their last 10 games, including a 4-3 overtime win in Brandon on Feb. 20.

This is the fifth meeting of six between the team where the season series sits at 2-2. The Wheat Kings won the two opening games in the series while the Raiders took the previous pair of matchups.

After tonight, the Green and Gold welcome the Saskatoon Blades to the Art Hauser Centre in the battle of Highway 11 on Friday night.

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A look at the Eastern Conference standings heading into the game.

Who to Watch

Winger Niall Crocker had the opening goal for PA in their loss to the Warriors on Saturday, earning the game’s second star for his performance. The former Raiders first-round pick also leads the team in scoring against Brandon this season, netting seven points (3G, 4A) in four games.

Defenceman Landon Kosior continues to manage over a point per game for the Raiders this season where, so far, he has 53 points in 51 games. The veteran also netted an assist last game to help pad that stat, assisting on Sorensen’s early third-period marker.

The pride of Rapid City, MB, Sloan Stanick gets to face off against his hometown team once again where he scored the game-winning goal in their last game against Brandon, all while making the highlight reel. The winger also netted an assist against Moose Jaw, collecting the helper on Herman’s late game marker.

More information on tonight’s contest.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann