PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Hurricanes Look to Advance in Game 5
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes will look to advance to the second round of the WHL Playoffs as they host the Red Deer Rebels in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first round series tonight at 7:00pm at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes hold a 3-1 series lead in the series after winning the first three games. The Rebels answered back with a victory in Game 4 on Wednesday in Red Deer as they earned a 5-2 win. Matthew Stanley and Tate Olson scored in the losing cause for the Hurricanes while Logan Flodell made 31 saves.
The Rebels will once again look to keep their season alive tonight and force a Game 6. Ethan Anders made 28 saves in the victory in Game 4 in Red Deer while Reese Johnson, Mason McCarty, Brandon Hagel, Alexander Alexeyev and Kristian Reichel scored in the win.
Tickets are still available for tonight’s game and can be purchased online, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre.
PLAYOFF SERIES: Tonight will be Game 5 of the best-of-seven first round series between the Hurricanes and the Rebels. The Hurricanes hold a 3-1 series lead. It is the second straight season that the two teams have met in the opening round of the post-season.
PLAYOFF SERIES: (* if necessary) HURRICANE TOP 5 PLAYOFF SCORERS
Game 1 – March 23rd, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge (6-0 LET) Brad Morrison – 4G. 8A, 12 points
Game 2 – March 24th. 7:00pm – at Lethbridge (8-3 LET) Jordy Bellerive – 3G, 5A – 8 points
Game 3 – March 27th, 7:00pm – at Red Deer (5-4 OT LET) Taylor Ross – 3G, 4A – 7 points
Game 4 – March 28th, 7:00pm – at Red Deer (5-2 RD) Jake Elmer – 1G, 4A – 5 points
Game 5 – March 31st, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge Dylan Cozens – 3G, 2A – 5 points
*Game 6 – April 1st, 6:00pm – at Red Deer
*Game 7 – April 3rd, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge
2017-2018 PLAYOFF STATS LEADERS:
Goals (4) – Brad Morrison Assists (8) – Brad Morrison
Points (12) – Brad Morrison
PIMS (14) – Owen Blocker Plus/Minus (+7) – Tate Olson
Wins (3) – Logan Flodell Shutouts (1) – Logan Flodell
Save % (.919) – Logan Flodell Goals Against Average (2.61) – Logan Flodell
REBELS, REGULAR SEASON: The Hurricanes and Rebels met six times during the 2017-2018 regular season with the ‘Canes posting a 4-2-0-0 record. Lethbridge won the first four meetings while the Rebels won the last two. In the last 20 regular season meetings dating back to February of 2015, the Hurricanes have posted a 16-3-1-0 record against the Rebels.
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: HURRICANES TOP 5 SCORERS
December 6th/2017 – at Lethbridge (4-0 LET) Jordy Bellerive – 46G, 46A – 92 points
January 9th/2018 – at Lethbridge (5-4 SO LET) Brad Morrison – 27G, 48A – 75 points
January 12th/2018 – at Red Deer (6-4 LET) Calen Addison – 11G, 54A – 65 points
January 28th/2018 – at Red Deer (2-1 OT LET) Dylan Cozens – 22G, 31A – 53 points
March 9th/2018 – at Lethbridge (4-1 RD) Taylor Ross – 21G, 21A – 42 points
March 14th/2018 – at Red Deer (5-2 RD)
2017-2018 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (46) – Jordy Bellerive Assists (54) – Calen Addison
Points (92) – Jordy Bellerive
PIMS (103) – Matthew Stanley Plus/Minus (+18) – Ty Prefontaine
Wins (38) – Logan Flodell Shutouts (3) – Logan Flodell
Save % (.909) – Logan Flodell Goals Against Average (3.14) – Logan Flodell
2017-2018 REGULAR SEASON LEADERS:
– Jordy Bellerive is tied 12th in WHL Scoring with 92 points & is tied 8th in WHL Goals with 46
– Jordy Bellerive is tied 8th in WHL Power Play Goals with 16 & tied 20th in WHL Power Play Assists with 23
– Calen Addison is tied 9th in WHL Defenseman Scoring with 65 points & tied 3rd in WHL PP Assists with 35
– Calen Addison is 21st in WHL Assists with 54
– Dylan Cozens is tied 2nd in WHL Rookie Scoring with 53 points & 1st in WHL Rookie Goals with 22
– Logan Flodell is 1st in WHL Games Played with 61 & 2nd in WHL Minutes by a Goaltender with 3474
– Logan Flodell is 1st in WHL Shots Faced with 1999 & 1st in WHL Saves with 1818
– Logan Flodell is 1st in WHL Wins with 38 & 6th in Shutouts with 3
– Logan Flodell is 1st in WHL Eastern Conference Save Percentage .909%
NEWS & NOTES:
Five Before: The Hurricanes and Rebels have met in the post-season on five prior occasions, including last season. The ‘Canes have won three of the prior five series. Lethbridge won the series in 1993-1994, 1996-1997 and 2016-2017 while the Rebels won in back to back years in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. The team with home-ice advantage as won all five prior series.
Experience: The Hurricanes have 267 man-games worth of playoff experience. Of all the ‘Canes, the most experienced is Igor Merezhko who has skated in 29 post-season games. The ‘Canes entered the 2018 playoffs with 190 games worth of playoff experience compared to 95 when they started the 2017 playoffs.
Game 5’s: The Hurricanes enter tonight having posted an all-time record of 10-10 in Game 5’s in their post-season history. The ‘Canes staved off elimination last year in the fifth game against the Rebels as they earned a 5-3 win at the ENMAX Centre.
On The Verge: The Hurricanes are on the verge of advancing to the second round of the post-season. With a win tonight, the ‘Canes will book their ticket to the second round for the ninth time in their history and for the second consecutive season.
Most In A While: On Saturday, the Hurricanes exploded for eight goals in an 8-3 triumph over the Rebels in Game 2 of their series. It was the first time the ‘Canes have scored eight goals in a post-season game since they earned an 8-4 win in Game 3 of the first round against the Saskatoon Blades back on March 25th/1992. The most goals ever scored in a playoff game by the Hurricanes is 12, having been done twice.
Special Teams: The Hurricanes special teams have been terrific through the first four games of the playoffs. The ‘Canes power play has converted at a 52.9% clip going 9/17 on the man advantage while the penalty kill has killed at an impressive 84% (21/25). The ‘Canes PP was just 2/36 (5.6%) and PK was 62.2% (23/37) in their final nine regular season games.
