Discussions

Prince Albert Raiders: T-7th in Eastern Conference, 22-23-2-1  
Top Scorers: Justin Bernhardt (24+42=66), Ryan MacDonald (26+18=44), Dustin Cameron (23+15=38), Michael MacAngus (13+18=31)  
Top Defenceman: Nathan Deck (5+21=26)  
Probable starting goalie: Going to guess Garrett Zemlak (12-7-0-0, 0.902, 3.23) but he and Steven Stanford (10-16-2-1, 0.901, 3.40) have been splitting starts so could go either way.  
Manitobans: Bryce Lamb (Killarney)  
 
Brandon Wheat Kings, 3rd in Eastern Conference, 26-13-3-1  
Top Scorers: Scott Glennie (22+32=54), Jay Fehr (17+32=49), Brayden Schenn (18+30=48), Andrew Clark (24+22=46)  
Top Defenceman: Colby Robak (7+14=21)  
Probable Starting Goalie: Flip a coin. With the home-and-home, Hayes and Priestner will likely split the starts tonight and tomorrow.  
 
The Wheat Kings and Raiders hook up for only the second and third times of the season, tonight in Brandon and tomorrow in Prince Albert. The Wheat Kings won the first game in overtime 5-4 on December 13th at Westman Place.  
 
Despite rumours to the contrary, the Raiders decided to keep top scorers Justin Bernhardt, Ryan MacDonald at the trade deadline... presumably in order to make a playoff run.  
 
Prince Albert is currently one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference over their past ten games (7-2-0-1). Only Calgary and the Wheat Kings have been better. As a result of their streak, the Raiders have propelled themselves into 8th place and a potential playoff birth.  
 
Having scored 44 goals over their past ten games, much of Prince Albert's hot streak is a result of increased scoring. Only once in those last ten games have they scored less than 3 goals (Calgary, January 7th).  
 
The Wheat Kings have now gone 11 straight games without a regulation loss (9-0-2) and have scored powerplay goals in 15 straight!  
 
I'll post scratches and starting lineups approx a half hour before game time.