PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Hurricanes Look for 3-1 Series Lead Heading Home
Calgary, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes will look to take a 3-1 series lead heading home tonight in Game 4 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary against the Hitmen at 7:00pm.
The Hurricanes lead the best-of-seven first round series 2-1 after wins at the ENMAX Centre on Friday and Saturday but were downed 5-3 in Game 3 by the Hitmen. Dylan Cozens scored twice while Zack Stringer potted the other in the losing cause on Tuesday. Carl Tetachuk, for the third straight game, made 30+ saves this time in a losing cause.
The Hitmen earned their first playoff win exactly three-years to the day that they had won their last playoff game. Calgary was led by Carson Focht who had two goals and an assist including the game-winning goal in the victory while Jack McNaughton was named the game’s first star making 26 saves.
Tonight’s Game 4 for prelude Game 5 slated for Saturday at Nicholas Sheran Arena in West Lethbridge. Tonight’s game can be seen at Browns Socialhouse’s in Lethbridge and heard on 106.7 ROCK.
PLAYOFF SERIES: Tonight will be Game 4 of the best-of-seven first round series between the Hurricanes and the Hitmen. The Hurricanes lead the series 2-1. It’s the first time the two teams will face-off in the WHL Playoffs since 2009 while it will be the fifth time overall the ‘Canes will face the Hitmen in the post-season.
PLAYOFF SERIES: (*if necessary) TOP 7 PLAYOFF SCORERS
Game 1 – March 22nd, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge (3-2 OT LET) Dylan Cozens – 3G, 1A – 4 points
Game 2 – March 23rd, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge (4-1 LET) Jake Leschyshyn – 3G, 1A – 4 points
Game 3 – March 26th, 7:00pm – at Calgary (5-3 CGY) Nick Henry – 2G, 1A – 1 points
Game 4 – March 28th, 7:00pm – at Calgary Jake Elmer – 0G, 3A – 3 points
Game 5 – March 30th, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge Jordy Bellerive – 0G, 3A – 3 points
*Game 6 – March 31st, 4:00pm – at Calgary Ty Prefontaine – 0G, 2A – 2 points
*Game 7 – April 2nd, 7:00pm – at Lethbridge Zack Stringer – 1G, 1A – 2 points
2018-2019 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (3) – Jake Leschyshyn & Dylan Cozens Assists (3) – Jordy Bellerive & Jake Elmer
Points (4) – Jake Leschyshyn & Dylan Cozens
PIMS (9) – Jackson Shepard & Scott Mahovlich Plus/Minus (+3) – Ty Prefontaine
Wins (2) – Carl Tetachuk Shutouts (0) – N/A
Save % (.931) – Carl Tetachuk Goals Against Average (2.27) – Carl Tetachuk
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: The Hurricanes and Hitmen met six times in the regular season with the ‘Canes posting a 5-1-0-0 record after winning the final five head-to-head match-ups. The ‘Canes outscored the Hitmen 35-24 (5.83 – 4.00 avg.). Jordy Bellerive led all ‘Canes scorers having recorded 13 points (7g-6a) in six games while Mark Kastelic led the Hitmen in scoring with 9 points (5g-4a) in six appearances.
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: TOP 6 HURRICANES SCORERS
October 12th/2018 – at Calgary (6-5 CGY) Nick Henry – 29G, 65A – 94 points
October 26th/2018 – at Calgary (7-6 LET) Dylan Cozens – 34G, 50A – 84 points
November 9th/2018 – at Lethbridge (4-2 LET) Jordy Bellerive – 33G, 50A – 83 points
December 16th/2018 – at Calgary (6-4 LET) Jake Leschyshyn – 40G, 41A – 81 points
February 13th/2019 – at Lethbridge (6-2 LET) Jake Elmer – 39G, 42A – 81 points
March 9th/2019 – at Lethbridge (7-4 LET) Taylor Ross – 34G, 35A – 69 points
2018-2019 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (40) – Jake Leschyshyn Assists (65) – Nick Henry
Points (94) – Nick Henry
PIMS (120) – Koletrane Wilson Plus/Minus (+41) – Taylor Ross
Wins (24) – Carl Tetachuk Shutouts (2) – Carl Tetachuk
Save % (.909) – Carl Tetachuk Goals Against Average (2.88) – Carl Tetachuk
2018-2019 REGULAR SEASON LEADERS:
– Jake Leschyshyn was tied for 9th in WHL Goals with 40 (one of 11 players with 40+ goals)
– Jake Leschyshyn was tied 6th in WHL Power Play Goals with 16
– Jake Leschyshyn was tied 4th in WHL Game-Winning Goals with 10
– Jake Leschyshyn was 1st in WHL Faceoff Attempts with 1799 & 1st in WHL Faceoff Wins with 1024
– Nick Henry was 7th in WHL Scoring with 94 points (one of 7 players with 90+ points)
– Nick Henry was tied for 2nd in WHL Assists with 65
– Jake Elmer was 1st in WHL Shorthanded Goals with 7
– Jordy Bellerive was 9th in WHL Shots with 267
– Calen Addison was 2nd in WHL Power Play Assists with 32
– Taylor Ross was tied 10th in WHL Plus/Minus with a +41 rating
NEWS & NOTES:
Four Before: The Hurricanes have met the Calgary Hitmen four prior times in the WHL Playoffs. The ‘Canes have posted a 1-3 playoff series record against the Hitmen, having been swept in four games in the second round of the 2009 playoffs the last time they met in the post-season. Lethbridge’s lone series win as in the 2008 WHL Eastern Conference Championship Series eliminating Calgary in a four game sweep.
Playoff Experience: The ‘Canes have a total of 398 man-games worth of playoff experience. Of all the Hurricanes, the most experienced player is defenseman Igor Merezhko who has skated in 44 WHL Playoff games. The ‘Canes entered the 2018 WHL Playoffs with 190 man-games worth of experience
Game 4’s: Lethbridge has posted an all-time record of 11-25 in Game 4’s in their WHL post-season history. The ‘Canes won two of the three Game 4’s in the WHL Playoffs last year with wins over the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Swift Current Broncos.
All-Time Record: In the playoffs, the Hurricanes have posted an all-time 85-101 record in 186 games. The ‘Canes have posted an all-time 18-18 series record while having gone 4-2 in playoff series in the last two WHL post-seasons as the ‘Canes have gone to the third round in back-to-back seasons.
