TUESDAY’S WHL MATCH-UPS
ROCKETS HOST HITMEN – Nick Merkley and the Kelowna Rockets (7-1-0-2) host Greg Chase and the Calgary Hitmen (8-3-0-1) in one of three Western Hockey League contests on Tuesday night.
The Rockets are coming off a 3-2 win over the visiting Prince George Cougars on Saturday night for their second straight victory. Kelowna owns a 5-0-0-2 record at home this season. The Rockets’ penalty killing unit has given up just five goals on 47 opposition chances over their first 10 games.
The Hitmen skated to a 6-3 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Sunday for their third consecutive victory. Calgary’s power play is operating at 28.0% efficiency this season. Sophomore Jake Virtanen recorded his first WHL hat trick on Sunday versus the Hurricanes.
It’s the first meeting of the season between the Rockets and Hitmen. The teams split two meetings last season.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Ryan Pilon and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (2-10-0-1) welcome Nic Petan and the Portland Winterhawks (7-3-0-1).
The Hurricanes suffered a 6-3 loss in Calgary on Sunday for their eighth defeat over their last nine games, and currently sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. The Winterhawks have won four in a row, with Petan piling up two goals and 10 points in that span.
In Kennewick, WA, Lucas Nickles and the Tri-City Americans (5-8-0-1) host Julius Honka and the Swift Current Broncos (6-7-0-1) on Tuesday night.
The Americans dropped an 8-1 decision to the visiting Portland Winterhawks on Saturday night for third setback over their last four games. The Broncos are 0-4 through four games of their current U.S. Division road trip, and have given up 20 goals over that span.
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