GAME DAY: Hurricanes Welcome Blades
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes return to action tonight when they welcome the Saskatoon Blades at the ENMAX Centre at 7:00pm.
The ‘Canes have dropped four of their last five games after a 2-0 loss Saturday night in Kootenay to the Ice. The Hurricanes ran into a hot goaltender as Wyatt Hoflin made 31 saves in that game shutting down the ‘Canes offense. Jayden Sittler was strong making 31 saves himself in the losing cause.
The loss dropped the Hurricanes road record to 14-13-0-0 on the season and their overall record to 37-16-0-0 on the year. The ‘Canes still remain first place in the Eastern Conference with 74 points, two points better than the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The Blades are coming off a convincing 7-1 victory last night in Medicine Hat against the Tigers. Luke Gingras scored a hat-trick in the win while three other players had multiple point nights. Saskatoon is 19-30-4-0 on the season and sit 11 points back of the Regina Pats for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Tonight will be the third meeting of the season between the Hurricanes and the Blades, Lethbridge has won the first two and six straight against Saskatoon dating back to last season.
2015-2016 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (27) – Giorgio Estephan & Tyler Wong Assists (57) – Brayden Burke
Points (76) – Brayden Burke
PIMS (90) – Andrew Nielsen Plus/Minus (+33) – Brayden Burke
Wins (20) – Stuart Skinner Shutouts (3) – Stuart Skinner
Save % (.926) – Stuart Skinner Goals Against Average (2.50) – Stuart Skinner
WHO’S HOT:
– Tyler Wong has points in 2 of 3 games (2a); in 5 of 8 games (1g-5a); 19 of 30 games (11g-21a)
– Jordy Bellerive has points in 2 of 3 games (1g-1a)
– Ryan Vandervlis has points in 2 of 3 games (2g-2a)
– Brayden Burke has points in 5 of 8 games (5g-5a); 14 of 18 games (10g-16a); 22 of 29 games (14g-31a)
– Egor Babenko has points in 3 of 7 games (2g-2a); 8 of 13 games (6g-5a); 22 of 31 games (14g-25a)
– Arvin Atwal has points in 8 of 14 games (1g-12a); 9 of 16 games (2g-12a); 13 of 21 games (2g-16a)
– Andrew Nielsen has points in 7 of 11 games (3g-6a); 15 of 20 games (5g-17a); 18 of 24 games (5g-21a)
– Cory Millette has points in 2 of 4 games (4g-1a); 7 of 12 games (9g-4a)
– 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 8th in WHL Goals with 27 & is tied for 13th in WHL scoring with 59 points
– Tyler Wong tied for 7th in WHL Power Play Goals with 8 & 3rd in First Goals with 5
– Brayden Burke is 1st in WHL assists with 57 & is 1st in WHL Power Play Assists with 25
– Brayden Burke is tied for 3rd in WHL Scoring with 76 points
– Giorgio Estephan is tied for 8th in WHL Power Play Assists with 15 & tied for 11th in WHL Assists with 36
– Giorgio Estephan is tied for 8th in WHL Goals with 27 & tied for 10th in WHL Scoring with 63 points
– Ryley Lindgren is 2nd in WHL Game Winning Goals with 7 & tied for 4th in WHL Power Play Goals with 10
– Ryley Lindgren is tied for 14th in WHL Goals with 20
– Cory Milliette is tied for 11th in WHL Goals with 24 & is tied for 7th in WHL Power Play Goals with 7
– Egor Babenko is tied for 10th in WHL Goals with 25 & is tied for 14th in WHL assist with 33
– Egor Babenko is tied for 2nd in WHL Rookie Goals with 25 & is 2nd in WHL Rookie Points with 58
– Egor Babenko is tied for 8th in WHL Power Play Goals with 7 & tied for 14th in WHL scoring with 58 points
– Andrew Nielsen is tied for 6th in WHL Assists with 41 & is 1st in WHL Defenseman Scoring with 53 points
– Jayden Sittler is ranked 8th in WHL with a 2.69 GAA & 12th in WHL with a .911 SV%
– Stuart Skinner is ranked 4th in WHL with a 2.50 G1A & 2nd in WHL with a .926 SV%
MILESTONE WATCH:
– Arvin Atwal is 8 points from 100 career points – Brayden Burke is 3 games from 100 career games
– Cory Millette is 9 games from 300 career game – Brady Reagan is 3 games from 150 career games
NEWS & NOTES:
Sputtering Power Play: The ‘Canes number one power play has been struggling recently. In their last nine games, the Hurricanes have gone 3/32 on the man advantage, a conversion rate of 9.4%. They have not scored a power play goal in their last four games and seven of their last nine outings.
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 9-2-0-0 in his last 11 starts posting a 1.73 GAA and a .949 SV%. He has not allowed more than two goals in seven straight starts and nine of his last 10 starts.
Top 10, Again: The Hurricanes again have cracked the CHL’s BMO Top 10 rankings for the eighth straight week as they were listed at #7 for Week 19. The ‘Canes were also listed in Weeks 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 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 30-man games to injury.
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 11 points as 85 points secures a post-season berth.
40 Mark: The Hurricanes are just three wins shy of the 40 win mark, if reached, it’ll be the first time since 2007-2008 that they have accomplished that feat. 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.
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 52 games this year, the Red Deer product has collected 53 points (12g-41a). 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 53 games. Babenko is on pace to score 35 goals and 80 points. The last ‘Cane import to score 30+ goals was Tomas Kopecky who had (34g-42a) in 2001-2002.
