GAME 42: @ EDMONTON
@ OIL KINGS: Tonight’s game will be just the second meeting of the season against the Edmonton Oil Kings. In their last meeting on October 29th at Rogers Place the Tigers went home with a 7-3 victory. Edmonton had last night off and is coming off a 7-4 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday night.
BY THE NUMBERS
JANUARY 8th, 2017
2016-17 WHL RANKINGS:
OVERALL: (28-12-1-0)
HOME: 14-6-1-0
AWAY: 14-6-0-0
Central Division: 1st
Eastern Conference: 2nd
INJURY UPDATES:
QUENNEVILLE – Lower Body
Man Games Lost to Injury: 12
16-17 SEASON SERIES VS. OIL KINGS
OVERALL: 1-0-0-0
HOME: 0-0-0-0
AWAY: 1-0-0-0
LAST 5 SEASONS: 12-8-0-0
LAST WIN: Oct. 29, 2016 – 7-3
2016-17 CLUB LEADERS:
GOALS: MAX GERLACH (24)
ASSISTS: MASON SHAW (46)
POINTS: MASON SHAW (59)
PIM: ZACH FISCHER (98)
PLUS MINUS: CLAYTON KIRICHENKO (+24)
WINS: NICK SCHNEIDER (25)
16-17 CLUB COMPARISON:
| TIGERS | OIL KINGS | |
| PP HOME | 23.5% | 16.9% |
| PP AWAY | 32.6% | 18.3% |
| PP OVERALL | 27.9% (2ND) | 17.7% (14TH) |
| PK HOME | 80.7% | 78.2% |
| PK AWAY | 86.2% | 79.0% |
| PK OVERALL | 83.4% (3RD) | 78.6% (13TH) |
| AT HOME | 14-6-1-0 | 9-10-1-1 |
| ON ROAD | 14-6-0-0 | 9-9-2-0 |
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP:
- Medicine Hat currently have an 8 game winning streak in the regular season versus Edmonton, their last loss came during the 2014-15 season
- Edmonton is 4-4-1-1 in their past 10 games while the Tigers are 7-3-0-0. Meanwhile Medicine Hat is one of two teams who have 14 victories both on the road and at home (Prince George)
- Medicine Hat picked up just their 4th victory when trailing after 40 minutes, last night the Tigers trailed Vancouver 3-2 after 2, their record currently sits at 4-12 in that category
TIGERS FAST FACTS:
- Tigers forward Chad Butcher has 5 points in his last 3 games including recording 3 assists last night
- Steven Owre extended his point streak with his hat trick last night to 4 game streak recording 4G, 3A over that span
- Oil Kings forward Adam Berg has 3 points in his last 2 games since coming back from an injury that made him miss 10 games
- Edmonton has the most overtime victories in the WHL, recording 7 wins in their 12 games headed to the extra period and an additional victory in the shootout
- Edmonton goaltender Patrick Dea has started 26 of the last 27 games for the Oil Kings and his 1968 minutes played is ranked 5th in the WHL
ON PACE FOR HISTORY: Tigers defenseman David Quenneville reached the 20 goal plateau. He joins an elite group of players as only 4 other defenseman in franchise history has scored more than 20 goals in 1 season, joining Cam Barker (03-04, 21G), Gord Hynes (85-86, 22G), Ryan McGill (88-89, 26G) and Kris Russell (04-05, 26G, 06-07, 32G).
TRADING PIECES: Edmonton splashed the pot ahead of the January 10th trade deadline as they sent their two overage players in Lane Bauer and Aaron Irving to Kamloops and Everett respectively. The Oil Kings received a good haul including 3 players and 3 Bantam Draft picks for the future. Medicine Hat also made a dip in the trade pool acquiring Michael Bullion and Jordan Henderson this past week.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On this day in 2006 the Tigers played a similar schedule to present day, a Saturday and Sunday back to back. This time the Tigers were at home against rival Lethbridge. Darren Helm scored twice in the opening period and Kevin Undershute also added an marker for an early 3-1 lead. Derek Dorsett and Brett Robertson both scored in the second period to increase the lead and Helm finished off his hat trick in the third period to complete a 7-4 victory. Matt Keetley stopped 30 of 34 shots as Medicine Hat won their 29th game and 4th straight.
WHO TO WATCH: Tigers – Jordan Henderson: Henderson plays his first inter divisional game as a Tiger having played his first game last night vs. Vancouver Oil Kings – Graham Millar: The overage player on his way back in the Irving trade from Everett recorded 2 points in his Oil Kings debut and has 18 points in 26 games this season.
NHL DRAFTED / SIGNED PLAYERS: Matt Bradley (Montreal Canadiens), Nick Schneider (Calgary Flames), John Dahlstrom (Chicago Blackhawks), David Quenneville (New York Islanders)
| LAST FIVE REGULAR SEASON | RESULTS: | NEXT FIVE: | TIME: |
| Dec 27 VS. Calgary Hitmen | 5-4 SOW | @ Edmonton Oil Kings Sunday January 8 | 4:00 PM (MT) |
| Dec 28 @ Calgary Hitmen | 3-2 WIN | VS. Prince George Cougars Wednesday January 11 | 7:00 PM (MT) |
| Dec 30 VS. Lethbridge Hurricanes | 9-7 LOSS | VS. Swift Current Broncos Friday January 13 | 7:30 PM (MT) |
| Jan 3 VS. Regina Pats | 6-2 LOSS | @ Saskatoon Blades Wednesday January 18 | 6:05 PM (MT) |
| Jan 7 VS. Vancouver Giants | 5-4 WIN | @ Regina Pats Friday January 20 | 6:00 PM (MT) |
