Raiders welcome Rebels for first round rematch

As for what’s new with the Rebels, they have started the season 2-1-1 under new head coach Brent Kisio, the Rebels’ fourth new head coach in the last four years. The Rebels season started with two straight losses, first in a shootout loss to Calgary and then in regulation to Edmonton, but have now won two straight over Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.

Also, the Rebels are coming in with one of the youngest teams in the league, and do not have a single 20-year-old on the roster.

The Raiders and Rebels played each other nine times last season, four during the regular season and five in the playoffs. In the regular season, the Raiders won the first two matchups in October and December, but then the Rebels won the last two matchups a month before the two teams met each other in the playoffs. The Raiders outscored the Rebels 15-11 during the regular season.

In the playoffs last year, the Raiders won in five games, outscoring the Rebels 21-9 including a dramatic overtime winner from Brandon Gorzynski to finish the series in Game 5. Shorthanded, the Raiders penalty kill has allowed a goal every game so far and sits second last in the league at 68.4%.

On special teams so far, the Raiders powerplay is buzzing at 27.8% early in the season, ranking them fifth most effective in the league, but they’ve also surrendered two short handed goals.

As for the Rebels, they have generated the most powerplays in the league so far with 26, only one other team has more than 20, but the Rebels have only scored at 11.5% and have allowed two short handed goals. The penalty kill also hasn’t helped much at 70.6%, fourth worst in the league.

There’s a tie at the top of the Raiders scoring between Ben Harvey with 3G-3A-6P and his centreman Maddix McCagherty with 1G-5A-6P. Their third linemate, Connor Howe, sits tied for second in the league in goals with 4G-1A-5P.

Scoring streaks:

Maddix McCagherty: four games, 1G-5A
Connor Howe: four games, 4G-1A
Owen Corkish: three games, 1G-3A
Jordan Murray: two games, 0G-2A

As for the Rebels, Poul Anderson leads the way so far with 1G-5A-6P, but Beckett Hamilton in second has 4G-1A-5P in just two games since returning from camp with the Colorado Avalanche. Finally Cameron Kuzma wraps up the top three with 1G-2A-3P.

Scoring streaks:

Poul Anderson: four games, 1G-5A
Beckett Hamilton: two games, 4G-1A

Finally in goal, the Raiders goaltending numbers aren’t flattering to start the season. Michal Orsulak is 1-2-0 on the season with a 0.869 save percentage and a 3.75 goals against average. Steele Bass is 0-1-0 with a 0.833 and 4.02.

As for the Rebels, Matthew Kondro 1-1-1 on the year with a 0.938 save percentage and a 1.63 goals against average. Behind him is Nathan Salisbury, who has a 0-1-0 record with a 0.864 save percentage and a 3.00 goals against average.

The Raiders will be wearing specialty orange jerseys in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday as they welcome the Red Deer Rebels. Puck drops at the Art Hauser Centre at 7:00 p.m., you can listen in to all the action on Brandt Raider Radio and 900 CKBI starting with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders welcome Rebels for first round rematch

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