GAME 57: VS. LETHBRIDGE
VS. HURRICANES: Tonight the Tigers are back on home ice to take on rival Lethbridge. The Hurricanes are red hot coming into tonight, their 5th meeting of 7 this season. Medicine Hat is also red hot with wins in 8 of their last 9 games and 3 straight overall. Last night the Tigers dominated the Hitmen in a 7-2 victory while the ‘Canes beat Prince Albert 4-2 at home to extend their unbeaten streak.
BY THE NUMBERS
FEBRUARY 11th, 2017
2016-17 WHL RANKINGS:
OVERALL: (39-16-1-0)
HOME: 19-7-1-0
AWAY: 20-9-0-0
Central Division: 1st
Eastern Conference: 2nd
INJURY UPDATES:
SCHULTZ – Lower Body
QUENNEVILLE – Lower Body
Man Games Lost to Injury: 42
16-17 SEASON SERIES VS. HURRICANES
OVERALL: 1-3-0-0
HOME: 1-1-0-0
AWAY: 0-2-0-0
LAST 5 SEASONS: 14-11-1-0
LAST WIN: Dec. 9, 2016 – 3-2
2016-17 CLUB LEADERS:
GOALS: MAX GERLACH (30)
ASSISTS: CHAD BUTCHER (59)
POINTS: CHAD BUTCHER (81)
PIM: ZACH FISCHER (117)
PLUS MINUS: CLAYTON KIRICHENKO (+37)
WINS: NICK SCHNEIDER (29)
16-17 CLUB COMPARISON:
| TIGERS | CANES | |
| PP HOME | 26.5% | 24.8% |
| PP AWAY | 30.4% | 25.2% |
| PP OVERALL | 28.5% (2ND) | 25.0% (5TH) |
| PK HOME | 79.1% | 78.4% |
| PK AWAY | 80.8% | 78.2% |
| PK OVERALL | 80.0% (10TH) | 78.3% (13TH) |
| AT HOME | 19-7-1-0 | 20-5-2-1 |
| ON ROAD | 20-9-0-0 | 13-10-2-2 |
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP:
- Medicine Hat heads into tonight 8-2-0-0 in their past 10 games and have a 19-4-0-0 record against the Central Division this season
- Medicine Hat holds the edge over the past 5 seasons, sporting a 14-11-1-0 record during that time, 10-2-1-0 in the Gas City
- Mason Shaw extended his point streak to 16 games last night with a third period assist, his point streak currently is the longest active streak in the WHL
- Chad Butcher leads the Tigers in scoring against the ‘Canes this year recording 9 points in 4 games including 7 assists
- It has been a high scoring season series so far with the goal differential sitting in the Tigers favor by a 20-19 margin in 4 games
TIGERS FAST FACTS:
- Lethbridge is on a 13-0-1-1 unbeaten streak in their past 15 games, with their last regulation loss coming January 4th against the Moose Jaw Warriors
- It is the Hurricanes second time this season with a streak of 12 or more games, earlier in November and December they posted a record of 11-0-2-0 before a regulation loss to Edmonton
- Hurricanes Streaks:
- Tyler Wong is on a 5 game point streak, recording 6 pts (4G, 2A)
- Giorgio Estephan is on a 4 game streak, recording 7 pts (2G, 5A)
- Egor Babenko is on a 5 game streak, recording 8 points (3G, 5A)
- Tigers Streaks:
- Jordan Henderson is on a 3 game streak, with 5 pts (2G, 3A)
- Chad Butcher is on a 4 game streak, recording 7 points (7A)
- Mason Shaw is on a 16 game streak, recording 21 pts (8G, 13A)
- Max Gerlach is on a 3 game streak, recording 5 points (1G, 4A)
DID YOU KNOW?: The Tigers have 4 skaters remaining on their roster who need to reach the double digit plateau. It would be the first time since the 1980-81 season that all rostered players had 10 or more points in a season (except goalies)
NEW ADDITIONS: The ‘Canes beefed up at the Trade Deadline acquiring the Kootenay Ice’s two 20 year old offensive juggernauts in Zak Zborosky and Matt Alfaro. The duo has 21 points in 21 games combined, while Alec Baer was acquired from Vancouver and has produced 11 points in 13 games with 8 goals.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: The Tigers hosted the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2013-14 season. Medicine Hat jumped to a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Curtis Valk, Steven Owre and Anthony Ast. Miles Koules scored twice and Ast added his second of the game in a 6-1 victory as Marek Langhamer stopped 20 of 21 shots.
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: |
| 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) |
| Feb 10 @ Calgary Hitmen | 7-2 WIN | VS. Moose Jaw Warriors Tuesday February 21 | 7:00 PM (MT) |
