Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, March 10 at Prince Albert
March 10, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (21-36-8-2, 52 pts.) at PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS (31-25-9-2, 73 pts.)
Saturday, March 10, 2018 - 6:00 p.m. MT - Art Hauser Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play game three of a four-game road trip tonight in Prince Albert against the Raiders. Calgary is 1-1 on the swing and coming off last night's 5-4 overtime victory in Saskatoon. Tristen Nielsen scored the winner on breakaway 1:58 into the extra session to complete his first career Western Hockey League hat-trick. Nielsen also added an assist to finish the game with a team-leading four points. Carson Focht with a goal and two assists and Egor Zamula with three helpers aided the Calgary attack. Mark Kastelic tallied the other goal for the Hitmen who erased deficits of 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3. Two of Calgary's markers were scored shorthanded. Gage Ramsay, Josh Paterson, Mark Rubinchik and Braylon Shmyr replied for the Blades. Calgary outshot the home side 35-24 with Nick Schneider making 20 saves to record his 95th career win. The Hitmen, at 52 points, are fifth in the Central Division and will miss the post-season for the first time in seven seasons. The Raiders, with 73 points, own the second and final Eastern Conference WildCard spot sitting five points ahead of Saskatoon. Prince Albert extended their winning streak to eight games last night with a 6-4 home-ice triumph over Moose Jaw.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Tristen Nielsen (5g, 3a) is on a five-game point streak.
- Mark Kastelic (3g) has goals in three of his last four games.
- Jake Kryski (5g, 9a) has points in eight of his last 10 outings.
- Conner Chaulk (4a) has points in two of his last three games.
- Jakob Stukel (9g, 9a) saw his 10 game point streak snapped last night in Saskatoon while Vladislav Yeryomenko's (2a) two-game run was also halted against the Blades.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. PRINCE ALBERT: Tonight is the fourth and final regular season meeting between Calgary and the Raiders. Two of their three games have gone into overtime with the Hitmen sporting a record of 1-1-1-0. Jakob Stukel (4a) and Riley Stotts (1g, 3a) lead the Hitmen with four points each in the season series. Vladislav Yeryomenko (3a) is next with three. Cole Fonstad (1g, 3a) and Jordy Stallard (1g, 3a) top the Raiders with four points each while Parker Kelly (2g, 1a), Vojtech Budik (1g, 2a) and Curtis Miske (3a) have three. The Hitmen are 5-1-1-0 in their last seven trips to the Art Hauser Centre.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 29/17 at PA: PA 6 CGY 5 OT...Jordy Stallard (1g, 2a) led the Raiders with three points.
Dec. 1/17 at CGY: PA 5 CGY 3...PA scored twice in the first 5:02 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie.
Jan. 21/18 at CGY: CGY 4 PA 3 OT...Calgary erased a 3-1 deficit with less than four minutes to go.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 92 PA 85 Power Plays: CGY 1-8 (12.5%) PA 2-16 (12.5%)
DID YOU KNOW?: Calgary has been to overtime in four of their last six games. Overall they have made 18 trips to the extra session, two shy of the franchise record of 20 set during the 2004-05 season...A total of 36 players have appeared in at least one game for Calgary this season with Luke Coleman the only Hitmen skater to play in all 67 games...Jakob Stukel has reached the 30 goal mark for the second time in his career. With 35 goals, he is one shy of his career best 36 scored during the 2015-16 season...Starting in 2018-19, each WHL team will play a 68 game schedule down from the current 72...There have been 51 penalty shots in the league this season including four by the Hitmen. Calgary is 1-4.
RECENT RUN: The Hitmen have picked up at least a point in seven of their last 10 games posting a record of 4-3-3-0.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Calgary has suffered 21 losses by a single goal this season. Eleven have been in regulation, eight in overtime and two in the shootout. Overall the Hitmen have played in 32 games decided by a single goal sporting a combined record of 11-11-8-2.
SHOT CLOCK: Calgary is averaging 30.18 shots per game this season. That ranks 18th in the WHL. Conversely they have allowed the 13th fewest shots at an average of 32.48.
PA CONNECTION: Hitmen rookie forward Cael Zimmerman played in the Saskatchewan AAA Midget Hockey League last season with the Prince Albert Mintos. Zimmerman tallied 42 points (11g, 31a) in 39 games to finish third in team scoring.
WHAT'S LEFT: Including tonight, of Calgary's five remaining regular season games two are at home with three on the road.
NHL WATCH: NHL Central Scouting has named four Hitmen among the top players available for the 2018 NHL Draft. Vladislav Yeryomenko, Riley Stotts, Egor Zamula and Carson Focht are all on the midterm rankings among North American skaters. Yeryomenko is number 79, Stotts 88, Zamula 100 and Focht 200. The 2018 NHL Draft is June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary's power play is 19th in the WHL at 17.7%. The penalty kill is tied 12th at 77.9%. The Hitmen have also scored 14 shorthanded goals which is tied for third most in the league.
ALUMNI UPDATE: Carson McMillan is playing pro hockey in Denmark with the Esbjerg Energy. The 29-year-old forward has 52 points (24g, 28a) in 47 games. McMillan spent four seasons with the Hitmen from 2005-09 appearing in 271 games. During his final season in Calgary he was a co-winner with Ian Schultz of the EllisDon Humanitarian Award. He has also played 14 career games in the NHL, all with Minnesota.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (1-2-1-0), October (3-8), November (3-4-2-1), December (4-5-2-0), January (4-10), February (4-6-1-1), March (2-1-2-0).
HITMEN VS: East Division (4-15-3-1), Central Division (13-9-5-1), B.C. Division (4-7-0-0), U.S. Division (0-5-0-0)
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Fan Appreciation Day and Player Awards presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONES
- Mark Kastelic is two assists away from 50.
- Luke Coleman needs six points for 100.
- Tristen Nielsen is two games away from 100.
- Nick Schneider played career game 200 Wednesday in Swift Current after surpassing 5,000 saves Feb. 28 in Red Deer.
- Jakob Stukel reached 100 career goals Mar. 4 against Red Deer.
- Zach Huber scored his first career WHL goal on Mar. 2 in Edmonton.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2018
- Wheat Kings Punch Their Playoff Ticket - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Brandon Push Blades to the Brink - Saskatoon Blades
- 2017-2018 Hurricanes Award Winners Named - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Pachal's OT Goal Dumps Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Marian Hossa, Todd Robinson, Joey Tetarenko Speak Prior to Tonight's 1998 Winterhawks' Memorial Cup Reunion - Portland Winterhawks
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Tri-City - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Day Preview: Blades Host Wheat Kings in Pivotal Matchup Tonight - Saskatoon Blades
- Game 69 at Red Deer - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, March 10 at Prince Albert - Calgary Hitmen
- 5 Things to Know for Don Cherry Night - Saskatoon Blades
- Wheat Kings Stun Broncos - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Wrap Eight Game Road Stretch in Lethbridge - Regina Pats
- Cougars Claw Back To Earn Point In Ot Setback - Prince George Cougars
- Royals Claw Past Cougars in Overtime - Victoria Royals
- Giants Fall 6-2 Friday in the Tri-Cities - Vancouver Giants
- ICE Announce Two Year-End Award Winners During Friday's Game - Kootenay Ice
- T-Birds Clinch Playoff Spot with Win over Spokane - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Tigers Push Past Oil Kings 6-4 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Third Period Slip up Costs Broncos in 6-3 Loss - Swift Current Broncos
- Rockets Hold off Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
- Rebels Closer to Clinching Playoff Berth with Impressive Win over Hurricanes - Red Deer Rebels
- Raiders Knock Off Top-Ranked Warriors - Prince Albert Raiders
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