GAME DAY: Hurricanes Host Broncos in Mid-Week Clash
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes get set for a mid-week clash against the Swift Current Broncos tonight at the ENMAX Centre at 7:00pm.
The Hurricanes are coming off a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday night at home. It was the ‘Canes 15th home ice victory this season; the most home wins in the entire Western Hockey League. Giorgio Estephan scored the game winner early in the third period to extend his person goal scoring and point scoring streak to five games while Stuart Skinner earned his 15th win of the season with 30 saves.
The Hurricanes enter play tonight with an overall record of 27-12-0-0 and 15-3-0-0 and are tied atop the Eastern Conference standings with the Red Deer Rebels with 54 points; the ‘Canes hold one game in hand on the Rebels.
The Broncos are reeling as of late and are selling off. In the last two weeks, the Broncos have made a trio of trades that have seen forward Jake DeBrusk and goaltender Landon Bow shipped out of town. In the return, the Broncos have added a number of players including Lane Pederson, Taz Burman and former ‘Cane Jamal Watson.
Swift Current currently sits 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 12-22-4-1 on the season and are on a two game losing streak after dropping a 3-1 decision to the Kootenay Ice on Sunday afternoon in Speedy Creek.
Tonight is the third of four meetings on the season, the ‘Canes have won the previous two. The two teams will complete the season series one week tonight in Swift Current.
2015-2016 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (24) – Tyler Wong Assists (45) – Brayden Burke
Points (56) – Brayden Burke
PIMS (66) – Andrew Nielsen Plus/Minus (+24) – Brayden Burke
Wins (15) – Stuart Skinner Shutouts (1) – Jayden Sittler & Stuart Skinner
Save % (.915) – Stuart Skinner Goals Against Average (2.85) – Jayden Sittler
WHO’S HOT:
– Andrew Nielsen has points in 7 straight games (2g-10a); 10 of 11 games (2g-14a)
– Giorgio Estephan has points in 5 straight games (7g-4a); 9 of 10 games (11g-7a)
– Brayden Burke has points 4 straight games (2g-4a); 9 of 11 games (5g-12a); 12 of 16 games (6g-19a)
– Justin Gutierrez has points 2 straight games (2a); 10 of 11 games (6g-12a); 17 of 19 games (14g-16a)
– Jordy Bellerive has points in 4 of 5 games (1g-5a)
– Egor Babenko has points 4 of 5 games (1g-3a); 14 of 17 games (8g-20a); 20 of 25 games (12g-24a)
– Barrett Sheen has points in 3 of 4 games (2g-1a)
– Kord Pankewicz has points in 4 of 5 games (2g-3a)
– Tyler Wong has points in 6 of 9 games (4g-7a); 9 of 15 games (8g-9a)
LEAGUE LEADERS:
– Tyler Wong is tied 3rd in WHL Goals with 24 & is tied for 10th in WHL scoring with 44 points
– Tyler Wong tied for 4th in WHL Power Play Goals with 7
– Brayden Burke is 1st in WHL assists with 45 & is 1st in WHL Power Play Assists with 19
– Brayden Burke is 3rd in WHL Scoring with 56 points
– Giorgio Estephan is tied for 6th in WHL Power Play Assists with 13 & tied for 8th in WHL Assists with 28
– Giorgio Estephan is tied for 7th in WHL Goals with 20 & tied for 6th in WHL Scoring with 48 points
– Ryley Lindgren is 1st in WHL Game Winning Goals with 6 & tied for 3rd in WHL Power Play Goals with 8
– Ryley Lindgren is tied for 9th in WHL Goals with 18
– Justin Gutierrez is tied for 9th in WHL Goals with 18 & is tied for 11th in WHL Scoring with 43 points
– Egor Babenko is tied for 8th in WHL Goals with 19 & is tied for 8th in WHL assist with 28
– Egor Babenko is tied for 2nd in WHL Rookie Goals with 19 & is 1st in WHL Rookie Points with 47
– Egor Babenko is tied for 6th in WHL Power Play Goals with 5 & tied for 2nd in WHL First Goals with 4
– Egor Babenko is tied for 7th in WHL scoring with 47 points
– Andrew Nielsen is tied for 4th in WHL Assists with 34 & is 1st in WHL Defenseman Scoring with 40 points
– Jayden Sittler is ranked 7th in WHL with a 2.85 goals against average
– Jayden Sittler is ranked 15th in WHL with a .905 save percentage
– Stuart Skinner is ranked 13th in WHL with a 2.95 goals against average
– Stuart Skinner is ranked 5th in WHL with a .915 save percentage
MILESTONE WATCH:
– Tyler Wong is 6 points from 150 career points
– Kord Pankewicz is 14 games from 200 career game
– Arvin Atwal is 7 games from 200 career games
– Brayden Burke is 10 points from 100 career points
NEWS & NOTES:
Top 10, Again: The Hurricanes again have cracked the CHL’s BMO Top 10 rankings for the third straight week as they were listed at #8 for Week 14, a one spot improvement over their #9 ranking from Week 13. The ‘Canes were also listed as #10 in Week 12 and Week 8 rankings and were named an Honourable Mention in the Week 6 edition of the Top 10.
Milestones: Andrew Nielsen will play in his 100th WHL game, all have come with the Hurricanes. In his 99 career games, Nielsen has collected 67 points (16g-51a). Carter Folk will appear in his 150th WHL game tonight. In his 149 games with the Hurricanes and Seattle Thunderbirds, Folk has accumulated 48 points (22g-26a) along with 257 penalty minutes.
Closing in on 30: With 27 wins on the season, the Hurricanes are just three wins away from cracking the 30-win plateau for the first time since 2008-2009. That was the last year the ‘Canes made the post-season. Over the last two years combined, the ‘Canes have collected just 32 victories. The Hurricanes are on pace for 50 victories this season; only once have they cracked 50 that was in 1989-1990 when they won 51.
2015 Success: In 73 games during the calendar year of 2015, the Hurricanes have posted an overall record of 37-33-2-1 accumulating a total of 77 points. The ‘Canes were 20-14-1-1 on home ice and 15-19-1-0 away from home during 2015. The Hurricanes are 27-12-0-0 in the 2015-2016 season.
Home Cookin’: The Hurricanes are in a stretch where they will play eight of ten games at the ENMAX Centre after playing nine games in nine different cities. The Hurricanes are 15-3-0-0 on home ice this season, the most home ice victories in the entire WHL.
BBG Line: The trio of Brayden Burke, Justin Gutierrez and Egor Babenko were place on a line together on November 26th. Since then, the three have combined 76 points (26g-50a) in that span helping the ‘Canes to a 13-3 record. Gutierrez has 26 points (13g-13a) while Babenko (7g-18a) and Burke (6g-19a).
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Andrew Nielsen, who was drafted in the third round (65th overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs, signed his first NHL contract in November inking an entry-level deal with Toronto. In 39 games this year, the Red Deer product has collected 43 points (9g-34a). He is first in WHL scoring by a d-man.
Impactful Import: Selected fifth overall in the 2015 CHL Import Draft, Egor Babenko has scored 47 points (19g-28a) in 39 games. He was ranked as a ‘C’ skater in the ‘Player to Watch List’ for the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by NHL Central Scouting. Babenko is on pace to score 35 goals and 87 points. The last ‘Cane import to score 30+ goals was Tomas Kopecky who had (34g-42a) in 2001-2002.
Special Teams: The Hurricanes power play and penalty kill have been great in their last 21 games. The ‘Canes PP is 24/76 in that span, a conversion rate of 31.6%. While the PK has killed 67 of the last 81 penalties taken, a kill rate of 82.7%. In that 21 game span, the ‘Canes have gone 15-6-0-0.