Homestand weekend gives Raiders chance for first in Eastern Conference as they welcome Pats and Oil Kings

The Raiders come into the game without a regulation loss and wins in their last five games for a record of 6-0-1 (Wins-Losses-Overtime/Shootout losses). Last week, the Raiders played twice with 5-2 and 6-0 wins over Kamloops and Vancouver, respectively.

As for the Pats, they sit 10th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 1-5-1, and on a six-game losing streak after winning their opener. The Pats also played Vancouver and Kamloops last week, first losing 4-1 to Vancouver on Saturday, then a 4-3 overtime loss to Kamloops on Monday.

On special teams, the Raiders powerplay was held off the board for the first time this season against Kamloops, but still sits third in the league at 32.1%. The penalty kill has been a perfect 12/12 in their last three games, sitting seventh in the league at 83.3%.

As for the Pats, their powerplay has struggled with a 16.1% success rate while giving up two shorthanded goals this year. Their penalty kill is also struggling at 65.2%, good for third last in the league.

In scoring, the Raiders have five players all with over a point per game to start the year. At the top there is a tie between Aiden Oiring with 3G-6A-9P and Riley Boychuk with 1G-8A-9P. Brayden Dube has 4G-4A-8P to sit tied for third with Daxon Rudolph with 2G-6A-8P, and in fifth is Max Heise with 4G-2A-6P.

Boychuk has the longest point streak going for the Raiders with a point in each of the seven games he’s played for 1G-8A. The next longest point streak belongs to Brock Cripps with 0G-3A in his last three games. Finally, in the last two games, Justice Christensen has 3G-0A, Aiden Oiring has 0G-4A, and Max Heise has 2G-1A.

As for the Pats, Julien Maze leads the charge with 4G-5A-9P on the year. Cohen Klassen is behind him with 2G-5A-7P, and tied for third in scoring are Keets Fawcett with 3G-2A-5P and Ephram McNutt with 0G-5A-5P.

The Pats currently do not have a single player with an active point streak, although Julien Maze has a point in every game other than Saturday’s loss to Vancouver.

In goal, the Raiders continue to split time between Dimitri Fortin and Michal Orsulak. For Fortin, he’s earned a record of 2-0-1 with a 0.905 save percentage, while Orsulak has a 0.920 going and a record of 3-0-0. Both goalies have played 181 minutes in three games, both have allowed six goals, but only Orsulak has a shutout.

For the Pats, their goaltending is going through a change. Kelton Pyne started their last game, but since then Pyne has been traded. Taylor Tabashniuk last played against the Raiders in September, he has a 0-2-0 record with a 0.894 save percentage. Marek Schlenker has played in four games, he has a 1-3-0 record with a 0.897 save percentage.

Saturday vs. Oil Kings

The first rematch of the season from last year’s electric playoff series carries two other big storylines into the game. For one, it marks the return of former Raiders assistant captain and NHLer Kyle Chipchura to the Art Hauser Centre as a member of the Oil Kings coaching staff, but the game also could be a matchup for first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Oil Kings currently hold that top spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 8-2-0, but their ten games already played is the second most of any team in the league. If the Raiders earn the win Friday night against the Pats, the Raiders will be one point behind the Oil Kings heading into Saturday.

The last three games the Oil Kings have played have been on home ice, and they’ve won all of the: 6-3 over Portland, 6-2 over Lethbridge, and 4-1 over Moose Jaw. Both Oil Kings losses this season have come on the road, 5-2 against Medicine Hat, and 6-3 against Calgary.

On special teams, the Oil Kings powerplay have had the fourth highest amount of chances, but has not scored much and has a 17.9% success rate. The Oil Kings have been the most penalized team in the league so far with 48 times shorthanded, but with a 87.5% success rate and two shorthanded goals against, they’re the third best penalty kill in the league.

In the scoring race, Miroslav Holinka leads the Oil Kings with 7G-5A-12P in seven games since returning from camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Second in that charge is Lukas Sawchyn, who has 5G-6A-11P, and third is Joe Iginla with 5G-4A-9P.

As for who’s been hot lately, no Oil King has a streak longer than three games going, but they have a ton of them. In the last three games, Miroslav Holinka has 3G-4A, Lukas Sawchyn has 4G-1A, Joe Iginla has 2G-2A, Max Curran has 0G-4A, Parker Alcos has 3G-0A, and Blake Fiddler has 0G-3A.

Oil Kings goaltender Parker Snell sits fifth in the league for save percentage at 0.933 with a record of a perfect 5-0-0 including a shutout. His counterpart Ethan Simcoe is 3-2-0 on the year with a 0.908 save percentage.

The Raiders will first do battle against the Pats on Friday. The puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre. That game will be broadcast on Beach Radio 101.5 FM. On Saturday, the Raiders welcome the Oil Kings with a 7 p.m. start, and that game will be on the usual home of Brandt Raider Radio, 900 CKBI with the pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Homestand weekend gives Raiders chance for first in Eastern Conference as they welcome Pats and Oil Kings

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