Discussions

Red Deer Rebels (29-19-0-4, 6th in Eastern Conference)  
 
Top scorers: Willie Coetzee (24+46=70), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (19+29=48), Andrej Kudrna (23+21=44), Landon Ferraro (12+20=32)  
 
Top scoring defenceman: Cullen Morin (2+23=25)  
 
Probable starting goaltender: With starting goalie Darcy Kuemper having the start last night in Regina, I'll guess that it's Kraymer Barnstable's turn (9-3-0, 0.902 save percentage, 2.96 goals against average). One of Barnstable's 9 wins this year actually came in Brandon on October 2.  
 
Manitobans: Nathan Green (Winnipeg, injured)  
 
 
 
Brandon Wheat Kings (35-16-0-3, 3rd in Eastern Conference)  
 
Top scorers: Matt Calvert (34+35=69), Aaron Lewadniuk (27+35=62), Brayden Schenn (20+42=62), Scott Glennie (22+38=60)  
 
Top scoring defenceman: Colby Robak (11+39=50)  
 
Probable starting goaltender: I've absolutely sucked at picking the starting goalie in 2010. I'll guess that the Wheat Kings continue to ride the hot goalie in Jacob De Serres (15-6-0, 0.892 save percentage, 3.25 goals against average), which based on my luck probably means it'll be Andrew Hayes that gets the call  
 
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Something has to give tonight as the two teams with the longest current winning streaks in the Eastern Conference do battle at Westman Place (Brandon and Red Deer have each won five straight).  
 
If one team has been a thorn in the side of the Wheat Kings this season, it would probably be the Red Deer Rebels. The Rebels have won all three head-to-head meetings so far, outscoring the Wheat Kings by a combined score of 15-9 in the process.  
 
If the playoffs were to start today, these two teams would be meeting in the first round based on their current positions in the WHL's Eastern standings.  
 
It would be great to hear others' thoughts on the matchup pre and post-game.  
 
I'll have lineups approx 1/2 hour before game time along with post-game pics.