Game Preview – Round 1, Game 5 at Winnipeg
RAIDER REVIEW: The Raiders head back to Winnipeg for Game 5 of their best-of-seven series with the ICE tonight at Wayne Fleming Arena. On Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre, the Raiders staved off elimination with a 3-1 win in Game 4. Remy Aquilon, Eric Johnston, and Sloan Stanick found the back of the net for the Raiders in the win. Tikhon Chaika made 26 saves to pick up the win in goal.
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SERIES AT A GLANCE |
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Game 1 – 3-1 L, Friday, April 22 at Winnipeg |
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Game 2 – 5-2 L, Saturday, April 23 at Winnipeg |
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Game 3 – 10-1 L, Tuesday, April 26 at Prince Albert |
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Game 4 – 3-1 W, Wednesday, April 27 at Prince Albert |
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Game 5 – Friday, April 29 at Winnipeg |
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Game 6* – Sunday, May 1 at Prince Albert |
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Game 7* – Tuesday, May 3 at Prince Albert |
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PA PP vs. WPG: 1/15 |
WPG PP vs. PA: 8/15 |
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Leader: R. Vitelli (3 pts) |
Leader: Z. Benson (7 pts) |
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WHL PLAYOFFS TEAM LEADERS |
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Goals — Reece Vitelli (2) |
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Assists — Cale Sanders (2) |
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Points — Reece Vitelli (3) |
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Power-Play Goals — Remy Aquilon (1) |
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Game-Winning Goals — Eric Johnston (1) |
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Penalty Minutes — Vladislav Shilo (8) |
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Plus/Minus — Sloan Stanick (+3) |
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Wins—Tikhon Chaika (1) |
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REGULAR SEASON TEAM LEADERS |
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Goals — Evan Herman (28) |
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Assists — Nolan Allan (34) |
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Points — Reece Vitelli (51) |
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Power-Play Goals — Evan Herman (10) |
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Shorthanded Goals — C. Sanders & O. Wiesblatt (2) |
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Game-Winning Goals — Sloan Stanick (4) |
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Penalty Minutes — Trevor Thurston (107) |
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Plus/Minus — Carson Latimer (+10) |
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Wins — Tikhon Chaika (22) |
BETWEEN THE PIPES: Tikhon Chaika backstopped the Raiders to their first victory of the WHL Playoffs on Wednesday night. He’s the first Raiders rookie goaltender to record a win in the WHL Playoffs since Blaine Russell beat the Medicine Hat Tigers during the 1996 postseason. Chaika posted a 2.79 goals-against average and a 0.904 save percentage during the regular season, both of which were second among rookie goaltenders. He also tied for the WHL lead in wins by a rookie goaltender with 22 during the regular season.
ON THE BOARD: Remy Aquilon scored the first WHL Playoffs goal of his career on Wednesday night. He played 18 games in the postseason before finding the goal column in Game 4. The Kelowna, B.C. product has two points in his WHL Playoffs career, both of which have come in this series against Winnipeg. Aquilon set career highs in goals (3), assists (24), and points (27) while playing in all 68 games this season.
WINNER WINNER: Eric Johnston recorded the first game-winning goal of his WHL career—regular season or playoffs—on Wednesday against Winnipeg. The Regina product had two goals and seven points in 42 regular season with the Raiders after being acquired from the Edmonton Oil Kings in December. Johnston has 11 points in his 61-game WHL career.
IN THE LINEUP: Terrell Goldsmith saw his first action of the WHL Playoffs on Wednesday night in Game 4. All players on the Raiders roster have now seen action in this year’s postseason.
UP NEXT: If necessary, the series heads back to Prince Albert for Game 6 on Sunday evening at the Art Hauser Centre. Game time would be 6 p.m. CST.
