After missing the playoffs in 2022-23, the Raiders have bounced back with a strong start to the season.

The Prince Albert Raiders have quietly been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference to start the season. They are one of four teams in the East with ten wins on the season and rank in the top ten for both goals for and goals against in the entire WHL. Here is a look at their first 19 games and why they have been so successful. 

One of the main reasons behind the Raiders' early season success is balanced scoring throughout the lineup. In total, 18 skaters have at least one goal on the season, while six have five or more. They also have eight skaters who have found the back of the net on the power play and nine who have recorded a game-winner so far this season. Having players sprinkled throughout the lineup who can contribute on a nightly basis is extremely valuable at the WHL level and is one of the reasons Prince Albert has the fourth-best points percentage in the Eastern Conference. 

The other impressive stat is that the Raiders are one of two teams in the WHL that have been perfect this season when carrying a lead into either the first or second intermission. When leading after the first, they are a perfect 6-0, while when having the lead to start the third, they are 10-0. So far, they have shown not just an ability to get the lead but hold onto it late in games, which will be crucial once the playoffs roll around.

Lastly, an encouraging trend for the Raiders is that they are consistently outshooting the opposition. Through their 19 games, they have only been outshot seven times or 36.84% of the time. While outshooting the opposition does not guarantee a victory, it shows that they can generate frequent scoring opportunities, which should lead to a strong record at the end of the season. 

Overall, there is a lot to like about this Raiders team. For the most part, they have been able to stay in games they are trailing until the final whistle and have pulled off impressive victories over teams like the Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats. If they can continue this form throughout the season, they should have no problem qualifying for the postseason this year.