Western Hockey League Preview: Prince Albert Raiders at Red Deer Rebels

RED DEER, Alberta (Interstat) — The Western Hockey League’s top team visits its cellar dweller Wednesday when the Prince Albert Raiders face the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavey Mart Centrium.

The Raiders (54-16-0), who have already clinched a league-best record, enter the contest on a dominant run. They have won nine of their last ten games, including decisive victories over the Rebels last weekend by scores of 6-0 and 4-1. Prince Albert’s most recent result was a 6-0 shutout of Red Deer on Saturday.

A key catalyst for the Raiders is defenseman Daxon Rudolph, who is riding a significant point streak. In the last four head-to-head meetings with Red Deer, Rudolph has recorded five points. He tallied a goal and two assists in Saturday’s rout and has 12 points in his last ten games overall.

The Rebels (26-44-0), long eliminated from playoff contention, are mired in a slump, having lost seven of their last eight contests. Their lone bright spot in the season series was a 3-1 home win over Prince Albert on March 7. Goaltender Matthew Kondro was instrumental in that victory, stopping 28 of 29 shots. He will likely need a similar performance Wednesday; Kondro faced 75 shots in the two losses last weekend, making 65 saves.

Despite the Rebels’ March 7 win, the Raiders hold a 5-2 advantage in the season series. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-2 Prince Albert victory.

The game is the first of three consecutive meetings between the clubs to close the regular season, with matchups in Prince Albert on Friday and back in Red Deer on Sunday.

Wednesday’s Game: Prince Albert Raiders at Red Deer Rebels, 7 p.m. MDT, Peavey Mart Centrium, Red Deer, Alberta.