GAME PREVIEW: Vancouver At Calgary
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen (28-17-2-1) play the final game of their five-game home stand tonight as they face-off against the Vancouver Giants (28-18-1-2). After having their eight-game win streak broken last week, the Hitmen have quickly begun another streak with wins in their past three matches. On Wednesday night, Calgary scored seven consecutive goals en route to a 7-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Hitmen enter tonight with 59 points, tied with fifth place Saskatoon in the Eastern Conference. Regina sits a point behind in sixth place with 58, while one point ahead of the Hitmen and the Blades are the Ice with 60.
VS. VANCOUVER: For the final time this season the Hitmen will battle the Giants. Calgary holds a 1-0-0-0 record against Vancouver following a 6-4 win on January 4 at the Pacific Coliseum. Jake Virtanen, Jayne Rissling, Brooks Macek, Danny Gayle, Chase Clayton and Collin Bowman all lit the lamp in the game while Chris Driedger made 20 saves. Last season the Hitmen were 1-0-0-1 against the Giants with their lone loss coming at home in a shootout.
– Jan. 4 in VAN: Hitmen 6 Giants 4. Six different Hitmen scored to extend Calgary’s win streak (Dec 30-Jan 4) to four games.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CAL 39 VAN 24 Power Plays: CAL 1-3 (33.3%) VAN 1-5 (20%)
TOP PROSPECT: Winnipeg, MB, native Chris Driedger was added to the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The contest will be played on February 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna. Driedger was ranked 12th among North American Goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting in their midterm rankings. Driedger will suit up for Team Orr, coached by former NHL head coach Pat Quinn. The last Hitmen player to suit up in the Top Prospects Game was Matt MacKenzie in 2010.
HAT-TRICKS: On Wednesday Brooks Macek netted three goals to record the first hat-trick of his WHL career. Macek is the fifth Calgary player to have a hat-trick this season, joining Jimmy Bubnick, Victor Rask, Collin Bowman and Chase Clayton. Macek is the only one of those five players to score his goals consecutively for a natural hat-trick.
ALL-STARS: This weekend the NHL All-Star game will take place in Ottawa with the AHL All-Star Classic also being held this weekend in Atlantic City, N.J. Taking part in the AHL festivities will be two former members of both the Hitmen and the Giants. Paul Posta will dress for the Eastern All-Stars, while Alex Plante will patrol the Western All-Star’s blue line. Both are alumni defencemen of Calgary. Former Giants Kevin Connauton and Tyson Sexsmith will play for the East and West, respectively. The last Hitmen player to take part in the NHL All-Star game was Ryan Getzlaf in 2008-09.
100 CLUB: Forward Trevor Cheek played his 100th career regular season game Wednesday evening against the Brandon Wheat Kings. Cheek, in his second season with the Hitmen, has recorded 55 points (24g, 31a) along with 88 penalty minutes.SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS: Special teams has played a large role in Calgary’s success this season. In games which Calgary scores a power play goal, they hold a record of 20-8-0-1. In contests which the Hitmen allow a goal on the man advantage, they are 14-14-0-1.
STREAKIN’: Victor Rask is currently riding a three-game goal streak. Since Jan. 20, Rask has potted four goals to go along with three assists. His streak is currently the third longest in the WHL, behind Emerson Etem (10), and Michael Burns (4). Brooks Macek has 15 points (7g, 8a) in his last eight games. Chris Driedger has won his last four starts.
WJC CONNECTIONS: Last month Vancouver head coach Don Hay led Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Calgary and Edmonton. Hay was joined on Team Canada by the Giants’ top scorer Brendan Gallagher. Vancouver defenceman David Musil also suited up for the Czech Republic while Calgary’s Victor Rask captured gold with Team Sweden.
NHL PROSPECTS: Brooks Macek (6th round Detroit 2010); Alex Roach (three-year, entry-level contract LA 2011); Victor Rask (three-year, entry-level contract Carolina 2011).
WHL LEADERS: Victor Rask is seventh in WHL rookie scoring with 39 points (21g, 18a) while Alex Gogolev is eighth with 35 points (19g, 16a). Rask’s 21 goals place him in third among WHL rookie snipers in that category. Hitmen defenceman Collin Bowman is 17th among WHL defencemen with 29 points (11g, 18a). His 11 goals are tied for the fifth most among WHL rearguards.
DID YOU KNOW: Wednesday night’s 7-2 win was the fifth time this year that the Hitmen have scored seven goals or more. Calgary’s season high for goals in a game is nine from January 3 against Victoria.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet Rob Trzonkowski at the Booster Club table located behind section 212 after the game.
UP NEXT: Calgary plays five of their next six games on the road, starting tomorrow night when they take on the Medicine Hat Tigers with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. The Hitmen make their next appearance at home on Jan. 29 when they host the Tri-City Americans.
