Goals For:          14                  12

PIMS:                42                  26 

Hits:                  71                  51

SB:                    29                   24

SOG:                 102                 102

PP:                   3/13 (23.1%)    3/21 (14.2%)

PK:                   18/21 (85.7%)  13/16 (76.9%)

This was the fourth meeting of the Armada and Raiders. Each team is 1-1 at home with three games to go. Both wins for the Armada have been low scoring affairs, 3-1 and then tonight 3-2. Halifax has outscored Anchorage 14-11 on the season, but scored 11 of those goals in their two wins alone. When their offense is clicking, the Raiders dominated the Armada.

A fascinating detail from the season series: each team has played three different goalies during the season series. Anchorage’s Larry Atta is the only goalie to appear in three out of four games, with a 1-2 records in two starts and one relief effort to Hank Scorpio in their 6-4 loss.

The head to head stats tell an interesting story: both teams have 102 shots on net, though Halifax has been more productive, both at even strength and on special teams. Halifax converted 3/13 powerplay attempts and killed 85.7% of Anchorage’s powerplays. Halifax also took significantly more penalties through four games (42-26) and significantly outhit the Armada (71-51). This aggressive, physical game has not seemed to hurt the Raiders, as Anchorage was only able to score three times with the man advantage on 21 tries (14.3%). This will need to improve for them in the coming games.

The teams will meet three straight times from Day 33 to 37, twice in Anchorage (Games 67 and 73) and once in Halifax (Game 69), to finish their seven-game series.

Nathan Cosco, despite only appearing in two games for the Raiders, was a standout performer, going 2-0 with a 2.5 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Look to him to get the starts against Anchorage the rest of the way.

As you would expect, the Kovacs brothers, Oliver and Kristoff, picked up where they left off last season. In the season series, the brothers have each scored four points, for a total line of 1-7-8 with three power play points. Their frequent linemate, Vince Rieper, has two goals and an assist. This trio, whether playing together or with Crush Cile replacing Oliver on the top line, will factor heavily in the rest of the series.

A surprise performer against Anchorage has been forward Richard Metcalf, Jr. The third year player has a goal, three assists, and a +4 rating going into Game 5 of the season series.

Centers Dean Colt III and Xena lead Anchorage. The pair has four of the Armada’s 11 goals against Halifax, and will likely have to keep up their high level of play if Anchorage is to be competitive in the last three games of the series. They are both also among the few players without a minus rating through four games.

On Xena’s right wing is Eero Niemi, who is tied with her and rookie Mika Mayfield for the team lead in points (4). Niemi’s paired smooth passing (1-3-4) with a strong defensive game (+2), though he could stand to shoot a little more (7 shots in four games).