PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Hurricanes Visit Rebels in Game 3

Red Deer, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes will play Game 3 of their best-of-seven first round series with the Red Deer Rebels tonight at the ENMAX Centrium in Red Deer at 7:00pm.

The Hurricanes, who dropped Game 1 on Saturday by a 4-2 score, were able to bounce back and even the series at a game apiece with a convincing 5-2 victory on Sunday night at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge. Egor Babenko scored three times while Tanner Nagel and Ryan Bowen added the others in the win.

The Rebels have been led by forward Michael Spacek through two games. Spacek has been a part of four of their six goals in the series thus far as he has recorded two goals and two assist in the first two games. Riley Lamb, who was strong in Game 1, was lifted after giving up five goals on 25 shots in Game 2.

Fans who won’t be able to attend the game in Red Deer can watch the game at Browns Socialhouse in Lethbridge or listen on 106.7 ROCK with the pregame show beginning at 6:45pm.

PLAYOFF SERIES: Tonight will be Game 3 of the best-of-seven series between the Hurricanes and the Rebels. The series is tied at one game apiece after the first two games. 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 – Sat, March 25^th, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge (4-2 RD)     Egor Babenko – 3G. 0A, 3 points
Game 2 – Sun, March 26^th, 6:00pm – at Lethbridge (5-2 LH)    Jordy Bellerive – 0G, 3A – 3 points
Game 3 – Wed, March 29^th, 7:00pm – at Red Deer                      Tanner Nagel – 1G, 1A – 2 points
Game 4 – Thu, March 30^th, 7:00pm – at Red Deer                       Ryan Vandervlis – 1G, 1A – 2 points
Game 5 – Sat, April 1^st, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge                           Alec Baer – 0G, 2A – 2 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:
PP MIA: The Hurricanes power play has been struggling in their last few games. After a 0/6 count in Game 1 and Game 2 against the Rebels on the weekend, the ‘Canes have gone 0/22 in their last four games and just 1/27 in their last four games with the extra man. The ‘Canes have not scored a PP goal in their last 26 PP chances.