PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Hurricanes Look to Keep Season Alive

Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes will look to keep their season alive tonight in Game 5 of their best-of-seven series with the Red Deer Rebels who lead the series three games to one.

The Hurricanes find themselves in a 3-1 hole for the second straight post-season after dropping a 5-3 loss in Game 4 on Thursday in Red Deer. The ‘Canes once again had a multi-goal lead only to see the Rebels storm back to win. Tyler Wong scored twice while Jordy Bellerive added the other in the loss. Stuart Skinner made 38 saves in the defeat.

The Rebels have been led by Michael Spacek, Lane Zablocki, Evan Polei and Brandon Hagel who have combined for 14 of the Rebels 15 goals in the series. Zablocki and Hagel each scored twice while Polei scored the game winning goal for the second straight game on Thursday.

The Hurricanes will look to stave off elimination and force a Game 6 back in Red Deer on Sunday evening.

Tickets for tonight’s must-win Game 5 are available online, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or by visiting the ENMAX Centre or Yates Ticket Centre’s.

PLAYOFF SERIES: Tonight will be Game 5 of the best-of-seven series between the Hurricanes and the Rebels. The Rebels lead the series three games to one. It’s the first meeting between the Hurricanes and Rebels in the post-season since 2002 and the fifth time all-time.

REGULAR SEASON SERIES: (* if necessary)                              HURRICANE TOP 5 PLAYOFF SCORERS
Game 1 – March 25^th, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge (4-2 RD)             Egor Babenko – 3G. 3A, 6 points
Game 2 – March 26^th, 6:00pm – at Lethbridge (5-2 LH)              Tyler Wong – 4G, 2A – 6 points
Game 3 – March 29^th, 7:00pm – at Red Deer (4-3 OT2 RD)       Jordy Bellerive – 1G, 3A – 4 points
Game 4 – Thu, March 30^th, 7:00pm – at Red Deer (5-3 RD)       Brennan Menell – 1G, 3A – 4 points
Game 5 – Sat, April 1^st, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge                           Zak Zborosky – 1G, 2A – 3 points
*Game 6 – Sun, April 2^nd, 5:00pm – at Red Deer
*Game 7 – Tue, April 4^th, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge

2016-2017 PLAYOFF STATS LEADERS:
Goals (3) – Egor Babenko                                                 Assists (3) – Jordy Bellerive
Points (3) – Egor Babenko & Jordy Bellerive
PIMS (7) – Zane Franklin                                                   Plus/Minus (+4) – Ryan Vandervlis & Egor Babenko
Wins (1) – Stuart Skinner                                                   Shutouts (0) – N/A
Save % (.914) – Stuart Skinner                                        Goals Against Average (2.52) – Stuart Skinner

VS. 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:
In a Hole: The Hurricanes find themselves in a 3-1 hole in the best-of-seven series. The ‘Canes were dispatched in five games one year ago today (April 1^st) in Game 5 against Regina after falling behind three games to one. The ‘Canes have never overcome a 3-1 series deficit in six times trailing three games to one.

Lead Me: The Hurricanes have had a difficult time holding leads in this series. The ‘Canes have had a two goal lead in every game in the series only to see Red Deer storm back to win three out of the four games despite being behind the eight-ball. The ‘Canes were 32-2-2-2 in the regular season when leading after forty minutes but are 1-2-1-0 in the playoffs.