Tonight's Raiders-Broncos matchup at the Art Hauser Centre is huge, colossal, monumental.. well you get the point.
 
P.A. leads Swift by five points with the Broncos holding a game in hand.  The Raiders can extend the gap to seven points and make it very difficult at best for the Broncos to get back into the playoff picture considering they are in the process of playing 13 games in 25 nights.
 
The Raiders lead the season series 3-2 with wins of 3-1 and 7-4 at home in addition to a 5-2 verdict in their last meeting in Speedy Creek...that was back on December 5th.. the night Igor Revenko took a puck in the chops fracturing his jaw.  Speaking of Igor, he looked better in Wednesday's 7-4 win over Sasaktoon, but still hasn't scored in eight games.  You get the feeling all he needs is a snipe or two from the right wing to get his game back to where it was in the first half.
 
The Broncos came back from a 4-1 deficit to prevail 6-4 at home in early October and held on for a 2-1 rememberance day victory on home ice.  In the first half they were virtually unbeatable at home, but virtually winless on the road (sound familiar?).  Now it's been a reversal of fortune.   While 1-and-6 in their last seven home games, the Broncos have picked up points in six of their last seven on the road.
 
This is a dangerous team on offense.  In addition to Cody Eakin's league leading 37 goals, Justin Dowling and Stepan Novotny have 22 each and several other players such has Brad Hoban and Matt Tassone have always been dangerous against the Raiders.
 

However, the red hot Justin Maylan (4 goals in two games) gives the Raiders three bona fide scoring lines with the prospect of Jonathan Parker breaking out at any time (he has yet to score since being acquired from Seattle at the trade deadline).  Parker's physical presence has already been a huge asset.  He has also teamed lately with Andrew Herle and Jordan Kochan as an effective energy line.
 
Garrett Zemlak looked more comfortable Wednesday against his old battery mate Steven Stanford who struggled in his return to the Art Hauer Centre.  It appears only a matter of time before "Zemmer" returns to full pre-concussion form.
 
After tonight's tilt in P.A. it's back on the bus for three tough ones through the Central Division next week.  The Raiders play in Medicine Hat Wednesday, Calgary Friday, and Red Deer Saturday.
 
See you at the rink.

The Raiders outshot and outchanced the Warriors while shutting down the league's best power play killing off all eight advantages (referees Brett Iverson and Greg Saraurer were penalty happy)   The only thing the Raiders couldn't do is score.  With a scoreless game apperernly headed for overtime, and icing call meant a face off in the Raiders zone.  Kendall McFaul's wrist shot from the left point from along the boards pinballed off rookie Danny Gayle and floated into the top cormer past Garrett Zemlak with 1:38 left and stood up for the 1-0 win.  That's the third loss in Moose Jaw since the break as P.A. went 0-for-4 in the crushed can. 
 
It was a tremendous road effort foiled by Jeff Bosch's 41 save effort...the second time he has stolen two points from the Raiders since Christmas.   The Raiders' chances of tying the game with a sixth attacker was all but snuffed out by a face off interference call against Brandon Herrod... the type of call any referee could make on almost any face off..a call that wasn't made all game long.. so why call it with the game on the line?  I hate it when officials take it upon themselves to decide a close game on a penalty call that is anything but blatent.
 
It seems the WHL zebras are auditioning for NHL jobs.  Calling everything that is (and sometimes isn't) a borderline stick foul.  I could never figure out how a call can be made when a player's stick barely touches the torso of an opponent.  Don't you need actual obstruction, for an obstruction type penalty to be called?   The referees appears to be cracking down NHL style.  I often have credited the WHL for showing some sense while allowing the skilled players to thrive without the clutch and grab of the "old days".  However, it seems they have gone beyond common sense.  Fans don't need fifteen power plays to be entertained.
 
Meanwhile, how about that Friday night game at the Art Hauser Centre.  A total of 88 shots by two high tempo teams who only needed five power plays each to put on a great show (they could have done it with much less).  It came down to Garrett Zemlak (45 saves) outplaying a very good Deven Dubyk (38 saves).  The 3-2 Raider victory is the 19th on home ice which at the time tied P.A. for the league lead in that category.  Igor Revenko scored one of the prettiest goals all season and counted the winner from behind the Medicine Hat net banking a pass in off the skate of Tomas Kundratek.  Brandon Herrod also scored his 29th goal of the season, but is thinking about the chances he missed to count number 30 in Moose Jaw, including a great glove save by Bosch on a second period breakaway.
 
This coming week will be a challenging one.  A home and home series against Brandon that opens Wednesday at the Art Hauser Centre and wraps up Friday In the wheat city.  Then it's back home to host the Kootenay Ice Saturday.  They are the hottest team in the WHL with 11 straight wins (pending Sunday's game against the Hitmen in Calgary).
 
This playoff race in the East is the best in my WHL memory.  It's great for the fans in ten Eastern cities.  If the Raiders were sitting three games above .500 in the West, a playoff spot would be all but guaranteed.   This is the third straight year there has been a ridiculous disparity between the two conferences and the WHL has absolutely no plan, no intention, and no will to change it.  Why? because it has no effect on the power brokers.  You can bet the farm that would change if it were the Calgary Hitmen and not the Prince Albert Raiders, Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos battling for their playoff lives.     
 
See you at the rink.    

They were two bizzare games over the weekend at the Art Hauser centre, but the bottom line is the Raiders will take the four points thank you very much.
 
On Friday against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the rebuilding visitors played hockey rope a dope with a strucutred neutral zone trapping, collapse around their net stifiling defense allowing goalie Linden Rowat a good chance at every shot that come his way, and he still faced 42 as the Raiders still manufactured many good chances.  Rowat was finally beaten by a Colin Reddin deflection and Igor Revenko one timer in the third period...game over right? wrong!!!  Graham Hood (acquired from Regina in the Carter Ashton trade) crashed the net for one goal, and deked Garrett Zemlak in the final minute for the equalizer as the Raider defense broke down at the most inopportune time.
 
Overtime solved nothing, and Zemlak outduelled Rowat in the shootout as Dustin Cameron scored the lone goal for the 3-2 victory.  You may be thinking 3-2 against Lethbridge who has practically mailed it in for the season?  However they are no pushovers...don't believe me? just ask the Blades who lost 3-1 to the Canes in Saskatoon Saturday night.  Anyway..deep breath...bullit dodged...bring on the Warriors.
 
The Saturday game was close to an hour late in starting beacuse of two broken panes of glass in the first two of three pre-game warmups.  Then there was an Olympic torch relay video and pregame cerimony...the first few steps into hockey's twilight zone.
 
Jamie Tucker got the start in goal for the Raiders and made a huge glove save early as the Raiders finally got to Warrior goalie Jeff Bosch to open a 2-0 lead.    Then it seemed officials started using seeing eye pucks, or rubberized discs secretly magnetized to find the twine.  Moose Jaw connected on three in a row...two on the power play (the only suspect goal was Dylan Hood's second on a shot from the top of the circle.  The Raiders would tie it 3-3 late in the first.
 
Tucker was lifted during the second period time out.  Earlier, a screen shot from the boards at the blueline found the top corner and another puck bounced in off Spencer Edwards who crashed the far post.  Meanwhile, a Jordan Rowley blast from the point beat Bosch and Brandon Herrod powered a shot from the slot through Bosche's trapper as the lead kept bouncing backand forth.  Shortly after Zemlak replaced Tucker, a Quinton Howden pass from the goal line pinballed in off either Zemlack or Ryan Button and it's 6-5 Warriors on thier fourth power play goal of the night.  Dustin Cameron would tie it on a Raider power play on a fire breathing wrister through the five hole...you could argue the invicible Bosch we saw on December 30th in Prince Albert would have stopped all six shots that beat him through the first forty minutes.  Meanwhile the Warriors appeared to get every bounce possible.
 
The third period approached normalcy with Jordan Hickmott scoring on a wrap around late in the period adding a goal to his three assists and you figured P.A. would close the show because lighting can't strike twice in the same spot...they couldn't give up last minute goals against six attackers for a second straight night?   It was par for the course on this night as Brendon Rowinski beat Zemlak in close after he made two big saves.  
 
So to overtime we go for a second straight night and with Connor Cox in the penalty box for pulling down Igor Revenko at the side of the net... Craig McCallum put an end to the madness with his second goal of the night and 20th of the season.  His shot somehow got through Brandon Herrod, a Moose Jaw defender battling at the top of the crease and Jeff Bosch sending the 2,313 fans home with more memories than they could possibly absorb in one game. 
 
You have to feel badly for Tucker who had a nitemarish, murphy's law type of night in his Raider debut.  Meanwhile newcomer Jonathan Parker had some great chances Friday night against Lethbridge in addition to an assist.  It looked like a week of travel, nerves, adrenaline and the fact he never got a chance to practice with his new team caught up with him Saturday.  However, he showed us some speed, skill and strength and could be an impact player for the Raiders in this playoff run.
 
This weekend is proof that regardless of the outcome, the Raiders usually leave you with a lot to talk about in the coffee shops and around the water coolers.  They can thrill and frustrate you not only from game to game or period to period.. it can happen from shift to shift.  Like a box of bits and bites, or Forrest Gump's..life is like a box of chocolates.. you just never know what you are going to get.  However, this Raider team is fun to watch ..win, lose or shootout.
 
Game three of this four game home stand is Tuesday against Tyler Fiddler, Joel Broda and the Calgary Hitmen.  The last time they played in P.A. the Raiders emerged with a 3-2 win in overtime in one of the best games played at the Art Hauser Centre this season.

Okay, I know that was last year's slogan, but unless the Raiders break out of a five game losing streak tonight it may be a long and winding road back into playoff contention.
 
It's still very tight in the Eastern conference race.  However they may trail Swift Current by just a point for the final playoff spot, but the Broncos have two games in hand.  Moose Jaw is 7th...two points head of P.A. but have four games in hand (The Warriors are in P.A. Saturday night).  The Red Deer Rebels can be reeled in.  They are four points up on the Raiders with two games in hand.  However in the day and age of three point games...you can lose touch with the pack.
 
The Raiders should have Igor Revenko and Andrew Herle back from their injuries.  Mark McNeill and Harrison Ruopp have returned from the World Under 17 challenge.  Ryan Button is practicing again but is questionable for tonight.  Goaltender Jamie Tucker dresses for the first time since Wednesday's trade from Vancouver and Jonathan Parker who came over from Seattle may also dress for tonight.
 
Meanwhile the Hurricanes, who may or may not be dealing healthy Captian Carter Bancks will have newly acquired Drew McDermott in the lineup.  The former Minto defenseman was picked up from Everett for a condtional seventh round draft choice.  Veteram D-man Mike Reddington may still be out with a sore groin and if Austin Fyten can't go, the Canes will summon 15 year old Taylor Balog for his WHL debut.  Balog was picked up from Regina in the Carter Ashton trade.
 
As for the Raider trades... Tucker has been the starter in Vancouver so he is at least a strong back-up for Garrett Zemlak for the rest of the season and a bona-fide top dog for next season with 16 year old Eric Williams and 17 year old Jacob Edwards pushing each other for the back-up spot.  If Parker can continue to score (30 goals in 105 games in Seattle) he gives the Raiders at least three lines scoring depth this year and at 18 has the potential of playing two and a half seasons.  As much as I like Ryan Aasman, he has struggled after a good start and I hope he fullfills his potential in Seattle.  The Raiders are deep in defensive prospects.  In addition to 16 year old Ruopp and 17 year olds Emerson Hyrnyk and Tyler Yaworski already with the club...there are prospects like 16 year olds Austin Frank and Matt Wasylenko in addition to 15 year old Connor Sutton who could make the team next season.  The challenge will be finding the kind of skill and puck moving ability that was projeted with Aasman, their first round pick in 2007.
 
As with all trades, it's going to take about a year to figure out if they were the right moves.
 
Im looking forward to seeing the 1961 Trail Smoke Eater replica jerseys on Saturday night against Moose Jaw.  Trail is my former stomping ground and the 61 World Champion Smoke Eaters are legenday in those parts and these Jerseys are sharp.  They will be auctioned off in the Ches Leach Lounge after the game.