GAME 65: @ REGINA
@ PATS: Tonight the Tigers finish their season series with the Regina Pats having won their last meeting on January 20th. Medicine Hat comes into tonight winners of their last 3 games. Regina has dropped two straight games, which marks just the third time this season the Pats have dropped 2 games in a row. Regina overall in their past 7 games have lost 4 times, one in overtime. Tonight’s contest showcases the top two teams in the WHL.
BY THE NUMBERS
MARCH 3rd, 2017
2016-17 WHL RANKINGS:
OVERALL: (45-18-1-0)
HOME: 23-8-1-0
AWAY: 22-10-0-0
Central Division: 1st
Eastern Conference: 2nd
INJURY UPDATES:
SCHULTZ – Lower Body
Man Games Lost to Injury: 73
16-17 SEASON SERIES VS. PATS
OVERALL: 1-2-0-0
HOME: 0-2-0-0
AWAY: 1-0-0-0
LAST 5 SEASONS: 6-7-1-1
LAST WIN: Jan. 20, 2017 – 8-5
2016-17 CLUB LEADERS:
GOALS: MARK RASSELL (32)
ASSISTS: CHAD BUTCHER (66)
POINTS: CHAD BUTCHER (89)
PIM: ZACH FISCHER (121)
PLUS MINUS: CLAYTON KIRICHENKO (+45)
WINS: NICK SCHNEIDER (31)
16-17 CLUB COMPARISON:
| TIGERS | PATS | |
| PP HOME | 27.4% | 32.5% |
| PP AWAY | 30.6% | 31.3% |
| PP OVERALL | 29.0% (2ND) | 31.9% (1ST) |
| PK HOME | 80.0% | 80.0% |
| PK AWAY | 79.9% | 79.1% |
| PK OVERALL | 79.9% (8TH) | 79.5% (11TH) |
| AT HOME | 23-8-1-0 | 20-5-5-0 |
| ON ROAD | 22-10-0-0 | 24-5-2-1 |
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP:
- Medicine Hat heads into tonight 8-2-0-0 in their past 10 games with the Pats are sporting a 5-4-1-0 record over the same span
- Medicine Hat has scored 308 goals on the season, the last time the Tigers eclipsed the 300 goal mark was during the 1991-1992 season when they scored 336 goals
- Michael Bullion has won 2 straight starts overall and sports a record of 2-0-0-0 against Regina this season in 3 appearance with a 0.917 save percentage
TIGERS FAST FACTS:
- Chad Butcher has recorded 7 points in 3 games against the Pats to lead the Tigers in scoring; he also leads with 6 assists
- Sam Steel leads the Pats against the Tigers scoring 8 points (3G, 5A) in the 3 games this season
- With the Tigers 91 points heading into tonight, it marks the best point differential in the standings (+24) since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 season. In the 03-04 season the Tigers went on to win the Central Division
- It is the 15th time in franchise history the Tigers have reach 90+ points in a season, the last time being 2014-15
- Since January 24th the Tigers have a record of 14-3-0-0, 4-2-0-0 against the East Division in those games
DID YOU KNOW?: Tigers forward Max Gerlach is just 1 point away from reaching 100 in his WHL career
REACHING 300: Tigers forward Chad Butcher is just 6 games away from playing in his 300th WHL game, all with the Tigers. If Butcher makes the mark he will become just the 9th player in franchise history to reach the mark.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
- BREAKING STEEL: The Tigers must stop the WHL’s leading scorer in Sam Steel along with line mates Dawson Leedahl and Adam Brooks. The trio have combined for 298 points on the year
- POWER OUTAGE: Medicine Hat must also control the Pats PP as they are 4/9 against the Tigers this season and 31.9% on the season, the best percentage in the league
WHO TO WATCH: Tigers – Mason Shaw: With goals in four straight games, Shaw looks to continue his streak. Shaw has 2 assists in 3 games against the Pats this year. Pats – Sam Steel – The league leader in scoring in the WHL, Steel also leads against the Tigers this year scoring 8 points in the 3 games.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On this day in 2006, the Tigers took on the Tri-City Americans. With Carey Price in goal for Tri-City the Tigers managed 2 early goals from Chris Stevens (18) and Tommy Maxwell (14). Tri-City would tie things up in the third before Kris Russell thwarted overtime with his 12th of the year with 19 seconds remaining, giving the Tigers a 3-2 victory.
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 18 VS. Edmonton Oil Kings | 7-4 WIN | @ Regina Pats Friday March 3 | 6:00 PM (MT) |
| Feb 21 VS. Moose Jaw Warriors | 6-3 LOSS | @ Moose Jaw Warriors Saturday March 4 | 6:00 PM (MT) |
| Feb 24 @ Calgary Hitmen | 5-4 WIN | VS. Kootenay Ice Tuesday March 7 | 7:00 PM (MT) |
| Feb 25 VS. Brandon Wheat Kings | 4-0 WIN | VS. Edmonton Oil Kings Friday March 10 | 7:30 PM (MT) |
| Mar 1 @ Prince Albert Raiders | 6-5 OTW | @ Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday March 11 | 7:00 PM (MT) |
