GAME 56: @ CALGARY
@ HITMEN: Tonight the Tigers are back at on the road as they travel to meet the Calgary Hitmen for the fifth time this season. The two clubs will see each other twice this month, with their final meeting of the season coming February 24th in Calgary. Medicine Hat has won 2 in a row coming into tonight and 4 of their last 5, while Calgary is the opposite only having won 1 of their last 5 games overall.
BY THE NUMBERS
FEBRUARY 10th, 2017
2016-17 WHL RANKINGS:
OVERALL: (38-16-1-0)
HOME: 19-7-1-0
AWAY: 19-9-0-0
Central Division: 1st
Eastern Conference: 2nd
INJURY UPDATES:
SCHULTZ – Lower Body
QUENNEVILLE – Lower Body
Man Games Lost to Injury: 40
16-17 SEASON SERIES VS. HITMEN
OVERALL: 4-0-0-0
HOME: 3-0-0-0
AWAY: 1-0-0-0
LAST 5 SEASONS: 9-2-1-0
LAST WIN: Dec. 28, 2016 – 3-2
2016-17 CLUB LEADERS:
GOALS: MAX GERLACH (30)
ASSISTS: SHAW, BUTCHER (57)
POINTS: CHAD BUTCHER (79)
PIM: ZACH FISCHER (117)
PLUS MINUS: CLAYTON KIRICHENKO (+35)
WINS: NICK SCHNEIDER (28)
16-17 CLUB COMPARISON:
| TIGERS | HITMEN | |
| PP HOME | 26.5% | 17.4% |
| PP AWAY | 29.2% | 18.5% |
| PP OVERALL | 27.8% (2ND) | 17.9% (17TH) |
| PK HOME | 79.1% | 80.9% |
| PK AWAY | 80.6% | 69.6% |
| PK OVERALL | 79.9% (10TH) | 74.9% (20TH) |
| AT HOME | 19-7-1-0 | 10-11-3-1 |
| ON ROAD | 19-9-0-0 | 9-14-4-1 |
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP:
- Medicine Hat heads into tonight 8-2-0-0 in their past 10 games and have a 18-4-0-0 record against the Central Division this season
- Medicine Hat holds the edge over the past 5 seasons, sporting a 16-5-1-0 record during that time, 7-3-0-0 at the Saddledome
- Mason Shaw extended his point streak to 15 games Saturday, his point streak currently is the longest active streak in the WHL
- Shaw also has a team high 7 points against the Hitmen this season, scoring 4 times and adding 3 assists
- Every skater on the Tigers has recorded a point against Calgary except defenceman Dylan MacPherson
- Since January 14th Matteo Gennaro has scored 15 times in 13 games, being named the WHL’s Player of the Month for January
TIGERS FAST FACTS:
- Calgary is 2-5-3-0 in their past 10 games. Since 2017 started the Hitmen only have 5 regulation victories in 19 games
- Hitmen goaltender Trevor Martin has started in 13 of 14 games for Calgary since being picked up at the deadline off waivers. Martin was spending time in the QMJHL before landing back in the Central Division
- Tigers goaltender Michael Bullion has won 8 of his last 10 starts since being acquired from the Portland Winterhawks. His 8 wins with one team is a career high
DID YOU KNOW?: With 38 wins on the season the Tigers need just 2 more victories to make this season the 20th time in franchise history to reach the 40 win plateau.
THORN: Calgary’s Beck Malenstyn has been a thorn in the side of the Tigers this season using his physical game to create offense. Recording 6 points in the 4 games is a team high to go along with 32 penalty minutes, also a team high, against Medicine Hat this year.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: The Tigers took on the Red Deer Rebels during the 2006-07 season. Red Deer jumped out to a 2-0 lead early into the second period, but back to back goals 32 seconds apart from Chris Stevens (26) and Jerrid Sauer (7) tied things up heading to the 3rd. David Schlemko would pot the eventual game winner, his 6th of the season with just under 8 minutes to play. Kris Russell added another as the Tigers won 4-2, their 14th consecutive victory.
WHO TO WATCH: Tigers – Mason Shaw: The ball of Thunder for the Tigers hasn’t let a facial injury stop his play. Shaw is on a league best 15 game point streak and is second in team scoring. Hitmen– Jake Bean: Being held pointless in 4 of his last 5 games to go along with a -8 rating, look for Bean to bounce back as the Hitmen’s power play catalyst
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: |
| Jan 31 VS. Kootenay Ice | 4-3 WIN | @ Calgary Hitmen Friday February 10 | 7:00 PM (MT) |
| Feb 1 @ Kootenay Ice | 6-2 WIN | VS. Lethbridge Hurricanes Saturday February 11 | 7:30 PM (MT) |
| Feb 3 @ Spokane Chiefs | 5-3 LOSS | VS. Victoria Royals Wednesday February 15 | 7:00 PM (MT) |
| Feb 4 @ Tri-City Americans | 6-5 WIN | @ Swift Current Broncos Friday February 17 | 6:00 PM (MT) |
| Feb 8 VS. Prince Albert Raiders | 3-2 WIN | VS. Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday February 18 | 7:30 PM (MT) |
