Weekend Preview: Hitmen need points out of Brandon, Regina
It’s a big weekend for the Hitmen as they play to keep their playoff hopes alive in Brandon and Regina on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Hitmen fell to the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday night in a close 4-3 game. Jake Kryski, Matteo Gennaro and Brady Reagan scored for Calgary.
Calgary rallied back from a three-goal deficit but couldn’t find any puck luck against the back-to-back CHL Goaltender of the Week, Zach Sawchenko, in the final minutes of the game.
Calgary outshot Moose Jaw 36-28 in the loss.
It was the 34th one-goal difference game that the HItmen have played in this season.
“The one goal games and the tight games, as somebody said the other day, we know how to play in those tight games which is good,” said coach Mark French. “We’ve had some success in one goal games and those overtime games but you know that’s what the playoffs are all about so those meaningful games, certainly we should be game ready.”
The Brandon Wheat Kings lost their most recent matchup 3-2 in overtime against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Mar. 1.
The Regina Pats face the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday night before hosting the Hitmen on Saturday.
Standings Watch:
Calgary is two points up of Saskatoon for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and four points behind Red Deer for third in the Central Division.
Both the Hitmen and the Blades have nine games remaining in the regular season.
Last Meetings:
Calgary beat Brandon 4-3 in a thrilling shootout win on Feb. 22 in the first-ever Be Brave – Anti-Bullying Game at the Saddledome. Jakob Stukel and Jake Kryski scored in the shootout.
The Hitmen lost to the Pats 4-0 on Feb. 4 in Calgary.
Radio: Sportsnet960 THE FAN (6:30 p.m Friday; 6 p.m. Saturday)
Webcast: WHL Live
Calgary Hitmen
Record: 22-26-8-2
Leading scorers: C Matteo Gennaro (34-30-64); LW Beck Malenstyn (23-19-42); LW Jakob Stukel (18-23-41)
Leading goaltender: Trevor Martin (21GP, 7-7-4-0, 4.00 GAA, .864 SV%)
Power play: 19th – 17.4%
Penalty kill: 20th – 74.0%
Brandon Wheat Kings
Record: 28-27-6-3
Leading scorers: Reid Duke (34-29-63), Ty Lewis (28-33-61), Tyler Coulter (26-30-56)
Leading goaltender: Travis Child (31GP, 17-4-1-4, 2.87 GAA, 0.903 SV%, 2 SO)
Power play: 7th – 23.1%
Penalty kill: 9th – 79.9%
Regina Pats
Record: 44-10-7-1
Leading scorers: C Sam Steel (44-71-115); C Adam Brooks (33-70-103); LW Dawson Leedahl (32-48-80)
Leading goaltenders: Tyler Brown (42GP, 27-7-5-1, 2.68 GAA, 0.909 SV%, 4 SO)
Power play: 1st – 31.9%
Penalty kill: 11th – 79.5%
