PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Hurricanes Begin Second Round in the Hat

Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes travel to Medicine Hat as they kick off their second round playoff series with the Tigers at 7:30pm at the Canalta Centre.

The Hurricanes find themselves in the second round of the post-season for the first time since 2009 after erasing a 3-1 series deficit to eliminate the Red Deer Rebels in the first round. The ‘Canes last played on Tuesday earning a 6-2 victory in Game 7 at the ENMAX Centre.

The Tigers have had a nine day layover after sweeping the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round of the post-season. Medicine Hat last played when they earned a 3-2 win in Dauphin over the Wheaties on March 29^th. The Tigers were the first team to advance to the second round of the post-season.

This series will be just the second time in history that the Hurricanes and Tigers will square off in post-season play and the first time since 1991 when the ‘Canes beat the Tigers in seven games. The two teams played seven times during the regular season with the Hurricanes posting a 3-4-0-0 record.

Game 1 and Game 2 in Medicine Hat can be watched at Browns Socialhouse in Lethbridge or heard on 106.7 ROCK. The series will also be broadcast on the WHL on SHAW.

PLAYOFF SERIES: Tonight will be Game 1 of the best-of-seven series between the Hurricanes and the Tigers. The ‘Canes and Tigers have not met in the WHL post-season since 1991 when the Hurricanes eliminated them in seven games – that was the only time in history the two have faced off in the playoffs.

PLAYOFF SERIES: (* if necessary)                                                 HURRICANE TOP 5 PLAYOFF SCORERS
Game 1 – April 7^th, 7:30pm – at Medicine Hat                               Tyler Wong – 5G. 6A, 10 points
Game 2 – April 8^th, 7:30pm – at Medicine Hat                               Egor Babenko – 3G, 6A – 9 points
Game 3 – April 11^th, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge                                 Giorgio Estephan – 2G, 7A – 9 points
Game 4 – April 12^th, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge                                 Zak Zborosky – 2G, 6A – 8 points
*Game 5 – April 14^th, 7:30pm – at Medicine Hat                           Brennan Menell – 3G, 5A – 8 points
*Game 6 – April 16^th, 6:00pm – at Lethbridge
*Game 7 – April 18^th, 7:00pm – at Medicine Hat

2016-2017 PLAYOFF STATS LEADERS:
Goals (5) – Tyler Wong                                                      Assists (6) – Egor Babenko
Points (9) – Egor Babenko
PIMS (10) – Jordy Bellerive                                               Plus/Minus (+7) – Giorgio Estephan
Wins (3) – Stuart Skinner                                                   Shutouts (0) – N/A
Save % (.924) – Stuart Skinner                                        Goals Against Average (2.69) – Stuart Skinner

1. REBELS, REGULAR SEASON: The Hurricanes and Rebels met six times in the 2016-2017 regular season with the ‘Canes posting a 5-0-1-0 record. The ‘Canes were 12-1-1-0 in their last 14 regular season head-to-head meetings. The lone Red Deer win came December 3^rd at the ENMAX Centrium.

REGULAR SEASON SERIES:                                                          HURRICANE TOP 5 SEASON SCORERS
October 29^th/2016 – at Lethbridge (6-1 Hurricanes)                     Tyler Wong – 51G, 58A – 109 points
December 2^nd/2016 – at Lethbridge (5-3 Hurricanes)                 Giorgio Estephan – 35G, 54A – 89 points
December 3^rd/2016 – at Red Deer (3-2 OT Rebels)                     Zak Zborosky – 41G, 33A – 74 points
January 7^th/2017 – at Lethbridge (3-1 Hurricanes)                       Brennan Menell – 12G, 59A – 71 points
February 1^st/2017 – at Red Deer (3-2 OT Hurricanes)                 Matt Alfaro – 25G, 35A – 60 points
February 8^th/2017 – at Red Deer (7-3 Hurricanes)

2016-2017 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (51) – Tyler Wong                                                    Assists (59) – Brennan Menell
Points (109) – Tyler Wong
PIMS (103) – Zane Franklin                                              Plus/Minus (+29) – Tyler Wong
Wins (34) – Stuart Skinner                                                 Shutouts (2) – Stuart Skinner
Save % (.906) – Stuart Skinner                                        Goals Against Average (3.26) – Stuart Skinner

2016-2017 REGULAR SEASON LEAGUE LEADERS:
– Tyler Wong was tied 1^st in WHL Goals with 51 & 3^rd in WHL Scoring with 109 points
– Tyler Wong was tied 4^th in WHL PP Goals with 15 & tied 2^nd in WHL Game Winning Goals with 10
– Giorgio Estephan was tied 11^th in WHL Goals with 35 & is tied 9^th in WHL Scoring with 89 points
– Zak Zborosky was 5^th in WHL Goals with 41 & tied 3^rd in WHL Power Play Goals with 16
– Brennan Menell was tied 3^rd in WHL PP Assists with 28 & 2^nd in WHL Defenseman Scoring with 71 points
– Brennan Menell was tied 9^th in WHL Defenseman Goals with 12 & 1^st in WHL Defenseman Assists with 59
– Calen Addison was tied 10^th in WHL Rookie Scoring with 33 points (2^nd among Rookie D-man Scoring)
– Calen Addison was 1^st among 2000-born scorers in the WHL with 33 points
– Stuart Skinner was 2^nd in Games Played (60); 2^nd in WHL Wins with 34 & tied 6^th in WHL Losses with 18
– Stuart Skinner was 2^nd in WHL Minutes by a Goalie (3386) & 2^nd in WHL Shots (1933) & 2^nd Saves (1749)

NEWS & NOTES:
Been a While: The Hurricanes and Tigers will square off in a post-season series for just the second time in history. The only previous meeting was back in 1991 when the ‘Canes knocked off the Tigers in seven games. Bob Loucks was the head coach of the Hurricanes that season.

The Comeback: For the first time in franchise history the Hurricanes erased a 3-1 deficit to win a series in seven games. The ‘Canes fell behind 3-1 after losing Games 1, 3 and 4 but were able to battle back in the series eventually eliminating the Red Deer Rebels in Game 7 in Lethbridge on Tuesday.

Seventh Heaven: With their win in Game 7 against the Rebels, the Hurricanes are a perfect 4-0 in Game 7’s in their history. The ‘Canes have won three of those Game 7’s on home ice. Tuesday was the first Game 7 played in Lethbridge since 1991 when the ‘Canes defeated the Tigers in seven games.

Locked Down: The Hurricanes, who had a difficult time holding leads early in their first round series with the Rebels, have been terrific in each of the last three third periods. The ‘Canes heading into Game 5 had been outscored 10-2 in the final twenty minutes. In Game’s 5 to 7, the ‘Canes outscored Red Deer 6-1.