Discussions

Prince Albert Raiders (20-18-1-2, 8th in Eastern Conference)  
 
Top scorers: Craig McCallum (18+28=46), Brandon Herrod (24+18=42), Igor Revenko (19+20=39), Dustin Cameron (20+18=38), )  
 
Top scoring defenceman: Jordan Rowley (5+31=36  
 
Probable starting goaltender: Garrett Zemlak (18-14-1-1, 2.90 goals against average, 0.913 save percentage)  
 
Manitobans: None  
 
 
Brandon Wheat Kings (26-13-0-2, 3rd in Eastern Conference)  
 
Top scorers: Matt Calvert (25+29=54), Brayden Schenn (14+35=49, with Cdn World Jr Team), Aaron Lewadniuk (19+29=48), Jay Fehr (19+29=48), Scott Glennie (14+27=41)  
 
Top scoring defenceman: Colby Robak (8+30=38)  
 
Probable starting goaltender: I'll guess Jacob De Serres (9-6-0-1, 3.55 goals against avg, 0.887 save percentage)  
 
The Wheat Kings play their first home game since the Christmas break tonight when they host Garrett Zemlak and the Prince Albert Raiders. It will also be Zemlak's first start at Westman Place since dropping the collective jaw of Wheat King fans in one of the better goaltending performances by a visiting goalie in Brandon in a while... a 42 save shutout on November 6. Since that shutout the Wheat Kings have scored 59 goals in ten home games for an average of nearly six per game.... a pace I'm sure they'd love nothing more than to keep going against Zemlak and co tonight.  
 
Once fairly comfortably in fifth place in the conference, the Raiders are living proof of just how tight the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East has become. A three game losing streak has forced them down to eighth place, two points ahead of ninth place Moose Jaw but only one behind sixth place Swift Current.  
 
Tonight will mark the home debut of newly acquired centre Brent Raedeke. Raedeke has scored a goal in each of his first two games as a Wheat King so far.  
 
It would be great as always to hear others' thoughts on the matchup pre and post-game.  
 
I'll have lineups and scratches approx a half hour before game time.