DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: Prince Albert Raiders (7-0-3-0) @Seattle Thunderbirds (2-4-2-1) 7:05 pm PDT
The road trip through the U.S. Division continues for the Raiders as they make a stop in Kent, Washington for a battle with the Thunderbirds. Both teams have had a penchant for the dramatic early this season, with the Raiders going to extra time in four of their 11 games and Seattle failing to get the extra point three straight times now.
Prince Albert got a goal with just 14 seconds left to force overtime in the first game on their trip but saw Michal Gut solve goalie Boston Bilous to give Everett the OT win.
Bilous is a key reason why the Raiders are the last team in the WHL without a regulation loss. He has a 1.85 GAA and .915 save percentage.
Offensively, the Raiders are led by Aliaksei Protas and his 15 points. The Washington Capitals prospect has been tough for defenses to handle. Brayden Watts also has 10 points in 10 games after coming over from the Vancouver Giants.
Reece Vitelli has played Seattle many times in his career and is looking for his first point as a Raider.
Conner Bruggen-Cate had both goals in Seattle’s latest game, a shootout loss in Kennewick. The overage forwards have been the driving force for Seattle up front offensively with Matthew Wedman (3G-2A-5pts) and Andrej Kukuca (3G-5A-8pts) and Bruggen-Cate providing eight of the team’s 19 goals. 16-year-old rookie Conner Roulette also has four goals with three of them coming in the same game.
Cade McNelly‘s indefinite injury has definitely had an effect on the team’s already thin blue line depth.
Seattle’s forwards have the talent to put up goals but have just 19 on the campaign so far. There are going to be games this season where they will break out for a slew of goals. This could be it as they are catching a team on a long road trip.
Expected in goal:
Roddy Ross (Seattle): Ross has a 3.26 GAA and a .910 save percentage but with a young team in front of him, turnovers in the Seattle zone have led to many high danger chances so take those numbers with a grain of salt. Ross has made many 10-bell saves this season and is often on the weekly highlight reel.
Boston Bilous (Prince Albert): Bilous has played in nine of the team’s 10 games. One would think he starts one of tonight’s game vs Seattle and tomorrow night’s game in Portland but not both. He already has two shutouts this season.
Also in action:
Lethbridge Hurricanes @Red Deer Rebels 7 pm MDT
–Noah Boyko and the Hurricanes take their four-game win streak into Red Deer. The Rebels meanwhile have dropped four straight.
Swift Current Broncos @Prince George Cougars 7 pm PDT
-The Broncos are looking for their first win on their six-game trip through the B.C. Division. They get Taylor Gauthier and the Cougars who split last weekend’s set with the Spokane Chiefs.
Brandon Wheat Kings @Tri-City Americans 7:05 pm PDT
-The Wheat Kings are also on a tough road trip. They could very well be without their top two goalies as well after Ethan Kruger left during their loss in Portland Saturday with an apparent head injury.
