GAME DAY: Hurricanes Host Hitmen to Kick Off 2016
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes kick off 2016 the same way they ended 2015 and that is by facing the Calgary Hitmen tonight. The ‘Canes welcome the Hitmen in the second of a home-and-home at the ENMAX Centre tonight at 7:00pm.
The ‘Canes and Hitmen faced off at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday night. The Hitmen picked up a 6-4 loss. Giorgio Estephan scored his 18th and 19th goals of the season in the losing cause. Jordy Bellerive snapped a 25-game goalless drought while Brayden Burke also scored.
Jakob Stukel scored twice including the winner. Three of Calgary’s six games came on the power play, including both of Stukel’s goals. The Hurricanes led the game 4-3 heading into the third period, but three goals in the final twenty minutes helped the Hitmen to the win. Calgary went 3/9 on the power play while Lethbridge went 1/4.
Tonight will be the third of six meetings between the Hurricanes and Hitmen. The home team has won both games by a 6-4 score.
After the game tonight, you can skate with the Lethbridge Hurricanes team on the ENMAX Centre ice by bringing your skates, helmets and a donation for the Lethbridge Food Bank.
2015-2016 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (24) – Tyler Wong Assists (45) – Brayden Burke
Points (56) – Brayden Burke
PIMS (62) – Andrew Nielsen Plus/Minus (+23) – Brayden Burke
Wins (14) – 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 6 straight games (2g-7a); 9 of 10 games (2g-11a)
– Jordy Bellerive has points in 4 straight games (1g-4a)
– Giorgio Estephan has points in 4 straight games (6g-4a); 8 of 9 games (10g-7a); 11 of 15 games (11g-11a)
– Egor Babenko has points 4 straight games (1g-3a); 14 of 16 games (8g-20a); 20 of 24 games (12g-24a)
– Brayden Burke has points 3 straight games (1g-4a); 8 of 10 games (4g-12a); 11 of 15 games (5g-19a)
– Barrett Sheen has points in 2 of 3 games (2g)
– Justin Gutierrez has points 9 of 10 games (6g-11a); 16 of 18 games (14g-15a); 17 of 20 game (14g-16a)
– Ryley Lindgren has points in 4 of 5 games (5g-3a); 6 of 8 games (6g-4a)
– Arvin Atwal has points in 5 of 7 games (1g-4a)
– Cory Millette has points in 3 of 6 games (1g-4a); 15 of 25 games (13g-12a); 16 of 27 games (14g-12a)
– Tyler Wong has points in 6 of 9 games (4g-7a); 9 of 15 games (8g-9a)
LEAGUE LEADERS:
– Tyler Wong is tied 2nd in WHL Goals with 24 & is tied for 11th in WHL scoring with 43 points
– Tyler Wong tied for 5th 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 55 points
– Giorgio Estephan is tied for 5th in WHL Power Play Assists with 13 & tied for 9th in WHL Assists with 28
– Giorgio Estephan is tied for 7th in WHL Goals with 19 & tied for 7th in WHL Scoring with 47 points
– Ryley Lindgren is 1st in WHL Game Winning Goals with 6 & tied for 4th in WHL Power Play Goals with 8
– Ryley Lindgren is tied for 8th in WHL Goals with 18
– Justin Gutierrez is tied for 8th in WHL Goals with 18 & is tied for 12th in WHL Scoring with 42 points
– Egor Babenko is tied for 7th in WHL Goals with 19 & is tied for 9th 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 7th in WHL Assists with 31 & is 1st in WHL Defenseman Scoring with 40 points
– Jayden Sittler is ranked 8th in WHL with a 2.85 goals against average
– Jayden Sittler is ranked 13th in WHL with a .905 save percentage
– Stuart Skinner is ranked 15th in WHL with a 2.95 goals against average
– Stuart Skinner is ranked 5th in WHL with a .915 save percentage
MILESTONE WATCH:
– Andrew Nielsen is 2 games from 100 career games – Kord Pankewicz is 15 games from 200 career game
– Carter Folk is 2 games from 150 career games – Tyler Wong is 7 points from 150 career points
– Arvin Atwal is 8 games from 200 career games – Brayden Burke is 11 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.
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 26-12-0-0 in the 2015-2016 season.
Home Cookin’: The Hurricanes kick off a span of game at home after playing nine games in nine different cities. The ‘Canes will play eight of their next ten games at the ENMAX Centre starting tonight against the Calgary Hitmen. The Hurricanes are 14-3-0-0 on home ice this season.
Road Success: The Hurricanes wrapped up a stretch of eight of nine games on the road on Wednesday with a 6-4 loss in Calgary. In the eight road games, the ‘Canes posted an impressive 6-2-0-0 record. On the trip, the ‘Canes scored a total of 40 goals (5.00 avg.).
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 74 points (25g-49a) in that span helping the ‘Canes to a 12-3 record. Gutierrez has 25 points (13g-12a) while Babenko (7g-18a) and Burke (5g-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 38 games this year, the Red Deer product has collected 40 points (9g-31a). 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 38 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 36 goals and 89 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 20 games. The ‘Canes PP is 24/73 in that span, a conversion rate of 32.9%. While the PK has killed 64 of the last 78 penalties taken, a kill rate of 82.1%. In that 20 game span, the ‘Canes have gone 14-6-0-0.
(Photo Credit: Candice Ward/Calgary Hitmen)