GAME DAY: Hurricanes Look to Clinch Versus Hitmen
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes get back at it tonight as they welcome the Calgary Hitmen at the ENMAX Centre at 7:00pm on ‘Unused Season Ticket Exchange’ night.
The Hurricanes are coming off an impressive weekend that saw them collect five out of a possible six points with wins over the Tri-City Americans and Hitmen, as well as an overtime loss in Edmonton against the Oil Kings.
The Hurricanes doubled up Calgary on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Saddledome by a 4-2 score. Jordy Bellerive had a breakout game leading all scorers with a three-point effort (1g-2a). Colton Kroeker scored his first as a Hurricane in the victory while also adding an assist.
The win on Sunday was the ‘Canes 40th of the season as they improved to 40-16-1-0 on the year; it’s the first time since 2007-2008 that the Hurricanes have won 40 or more games.
The Hitmen enter play tonight sitting third place in the Central Division with a record of 32-21-1-2 on the season. Calgary current sits 14 points behind the Hurricanes in the standings.
A single point tonight against the Hitmen, or a Swift Current loss of any kind against Saskatoon, and the Hurricanes will officially clinch a playoff berth for the first time in six seasons.
2015-2016 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (32) – Tyler Wong Assists (66) – Brayden Burke
Points (86) – Brayden Burke
PIMS (99) – Andrew Nielsen Plus/Minus (+37) – Brayden Burke
Wins (21) – Stuart Skinner Shutouts (3) – Stuart Skinner
Save % (.922) – Stuart Skinner Goals Against Average (2.64) – Stuart Skinner
WHO’S HOT:
– Brayden Burke has points in 4 straight games (1g-9a); 9 of 12 games (6g-14a); 26 of 33 games (15g-40a)
– Cory Millette has points in 4 straight games (5a); 6 of 8 games (4g-5a); 11 of 16 games (9g-9a)
– Tyler Wong has points in 3 of 4 (5g-2a); 5 of 7 games (5g-4a); 22 of 34 games (16g-23a)
– Andrew Nielsen has points in 3 of 4 games (3g-1a); 10 of 15 games (6g-7a); 21 of 28 games (8g-23a)
– Arvin Atwal has points in 3of 4 games (1g-12a); 11 of 18 games (2g-14a); 16 of 25 games (3g-18a)
– Carter Folk has points in 3 of 4 games (3g-1a); 4 of 6 games (3g-3a); 5 of 8 (3g-4a)
– Egor Babenko has points in 3 of 8 games (2g-2a); 8 of 14 games (6g-5a); 22 of 32 games (14g-25a)
– Justin Gutierrez has points 7 of 9 games (4g-4a); 15 of 18 games (10g-14a); 22 of 26 games (18g-18a)
– Giorgio Estephan has points in 14 of 17 games (14g-12a); 18 of 22 games (18g-15a)
LEAGUE LEADERS:
– Tyler Wong is tied 5th in WHL Goals with 32 & is tied for 15th in WHL Assists with 34
– Tyler Wong tied for 6th in WHL Power Play Goals with 9 & is tied for 9th in WHL scoring with 66 points
– Brayden Burke is 1st in WHL assists with 66 & is 1st in WHL Power Play Assists with 28
– Brayden Burke is for 2nd in WHL Scoring with 86 points
– Giorgio Estephan is tied for 9th in WHL Power Play Assists with 15 & tied for 15th in WHL Assists with 36
– Giorgio Estephan is tied for 10th in WHL Goals with 27 & tied for 11th in WHL Scoring with 63 points
– Ryley Lindgren is 3rd in WHL Game Winning Goals with 7 & tied for 4th in WHL Power Play Goals with 11
– Ryley Lindgren is tied for 15th in WHL Goals with 22
– Justin Gutierrez is tied for 15th in WHL Goals with 22
– Cory Milliette is tied for 13th in WHL Goals with 24 & is tied for 8th in WHL Power Play Goals with 7
– Egor Babenko is tied for 12th in WHL Goals with 25 & is tied for 16th in WHL assist with 33
– Egor Babenko is tied for 2nd in WHL Rookie Goals with 25 & is 3rd in WHL Rookie Points with 58
– Egor Babenko is tied for 8th in WHL Power Play Goals with 7 & tied for 15th in WHL scoring with 58 points
– Andrew Nielsen is tied for 9th in WHL Assists with 42 & is 1st in WHL Defenseman Scoring with 57 points
– Jayden Sittler is ranked 6th in WHL with a 2.65 GAA & 11th in WHL with a .912 SV%
– Stuart Skinner is ranked 5th in WHL with a 2.64 G1A & 3rd in WHL with a .922 SV%
MILESTONE WATCH:
– Arvin Atwal is 5 points from 100 career points – Brayden Burke is 8 assists from 100 career assists
– Cory Millette is 5 games from 300 career game – Kord Pankewicz is 6 points from 100 career points
NEWS & NOTES:
Close to Clinch Time: The Hurricanes, who have not made the post-season in six seasons, are inching closer to clinching a 2016 playoff spot. Heading into action tonight, the Hurricanes magic number is one point as 82 points secures a post-season berth.
40 Mark: On February 14th, the Hurricanes earned their 40th victory of the season. It’s the first time since 2007-2008 that they have accomplished that feat. The Hurricanes are on pace for 51 victories this season; only once have they cracked 50 that was in 1989-1990 when they won 51.
Oh My Burke: Second year forward Brayden Burke is having a great year. On February 10th against the Blades, Burke reached the 80-point plateau becoming the first Hurricane since Colton Sceviour did it in 2008-2009. Burke is four points shy of 90 points, if reached, he’ll be the first ‘Canes since Zach Boychuk in 2006-2007 to reach 90+ points in a single season.
Sensational Skinner: Stuart Skinner was named the WHL’s Vaughn Goaltender of the Month for the January. The 17-year-old posted a 5-1-0-0 record in January with a 1.50 goals against average and a .955 save percentage. Skinner is 9-2-1-0 in his last 12 decisions posting a 2.08 GAA and a .939 SV%.
Top 10, Again: The Hurricanes again have cracked the CHL’s BMO Top 10 rankings for the ninth straight week as they were listed at #8 for Week 20. The ‘Canes were also listed in Weeks 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and were named an Honourable Mention in the Week 6 edition of the Top 10.
Walking Wounded: The Hurricanes players have been dropping like flies. The latest injury was Giorgio Estephan who suffered a lower-body injury on February 2nd in Kelowna (he’ll be out 3-6 weeks). Since Christmas, the ‘Canes have lost 42-man games to injury.
Gone Streakin’: The Hurricanes strung together a 10-game win streak in January. It was the longest unbeaten streak since the 2004-2005 season when the ‘Canes posted 12 wins and two ties in a 14 game stretch between November 7th to December 10th of 2004.
Central Scouting: The NHL’s Central Scouting Service released their midterm rankings on Tuesday and Brayden Burke and Egor Babenko both found their names among the Top 100 of North American skaters. Burke came in at #68 while Babenko cracked the list at #77.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Andrew Nielsen, who was drafted in the third round (65th overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015, signed his first NHL contract in November inking an entry-level deal. In 56 games this year, the Red Deer product has collected 57 points (15g-42a). 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 58 points (25g-33a) in 54 games. Babenko is on pace to score 33 goals and 77 points. The last ‘Cane import to score 30+ goals was Tomas Kopecky who had (34g-42a) in 2001-2002.
(Photo Credit: Candice Ward/Calgary Hitmen)
