Hitmen Search For Bounce Back On Home Ice
The busy stretch carries on.
The Hitmen are back on home ice to take on the Regina Pats, (7 p.m., WHL Live, Sportsnet 960 THE FAN) in the final meeting of the season between the clubs.
Regina leads the season series 3-0, outscoring the Hitmen 16-6, with the last meeting being Jan. 13. Defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko (4A) tops the Hitmen with four points against the Pats, as the Hitmen look to finish the season-series with a win and improve their mark of 3-2-2 in their last seven home games against Regina.
The Hitmen kicked off a three-in-three weekend Friday night in Edmonton, falling 4-3 in overtime. Zach Huber, Jakob Stukel and Jake Kryski all scored for the Hitmen, while Nick Schneider ended with 25 saves.
Regina come into the matchup fresh after not having played since last Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the league-leading Moose Jaw Warriors. With a 6-3-0-1 mark in their last ten games played, the Pats continue to hold onto the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, but sit only one point behind the Brandon Wheat Kings for third in the East Division.
With the WHL season winding down, the Hitmen have just nine games left on their schedule with four being on home ice and five on the road. Saturday marks the fourth game that sees the club play five games in six nights, with their next five games in the span of eight days.
The Hitmen will wrap-up the weekend Sunday afternoon when they take on the Red Deer Rebels in the final meeting of the season between the Central Division rivals.
Hitmen Streaks
Jakob Stukel (6G, 6A) is riding a seven-game point streak.
Jake Kryski (5G, 7A) has points in six consecutive games.
Conner Chaulk (1G, 1A) has points in back-to-back games.
Nick Schneider has started three straight games in goal.
Hitmen Milestones
Jakob Stukel needs two goals for 100.
Mark Kastelic is two assists away from 50.
Nick Schneider is two games shy of 200.
Luke Coleman needs six points for 100.
Hitmen
Record: 19-35-7-2
Goals For: 192
Goals Against: 249
Leaders:
Goals: Jakob Stukel (32)
Assists: Jake Kryski (34)
Points: Stukel (53)
Powerplay Goals: Vladislav Yeryomenko (7)
Shorthanded Goals: Luke Coleman (3)
Shots: Stukel (201)
Top Goalie: Nick Schneider 18-28-7-2, 3.70 GAA, .885 SV%
Pats
Record: 33-25-5-1
Goals For: 214
Goals Against: 215
Leaders:
Goals: Cameron Hebig (40)
Assists: Sam Steel (47)
Points: Hebig (82)
Powerplay Goals: Hebig (13)
Shorthanded Goals: Hebig (4)
Shots: Bradley, Hebig (282)
Top Goalie: Ryan Kubic 13-15-2, 3.68 GAA, .888 SV%
Special Teams Rankings
Hitmen
Powerplay: 45 for 255 17.6% (20th Overall)
Penalty Kill: 77.6% (16th Overall)
Pats
Powerplay: 60 for 267 22.5% (10th Overall)
Penalty Kill: 74.4% (19th Overall)
