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.