Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, April 7 at Edmonton
April 7, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN at EDMONTON OIL KINGS
Game 2 of Best-of-Seven Eastern Conference Semi-Final. Oil Kings leads series 1-0.
Sunday, April 7, 2019 - 5:00 p.m. MT - Rogers Place
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen visit Rogers Place in Edmonton this afternoon for Game 2 of their best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference Semi-Final series. The Oil Kings took the opener last night 3-2 in overtime. Airdrie, AB product Jake Neighbours scored twice, including the game winner 3:20 into extra time. Edmonton erased a 2-0 deficit netting a pair of goals in the final five minutes, one from Parker Gavlas before the trying marker from Neighbours with 14.3 seconds remaining. Kaden Elder and Luke Coleman replied for the Hitmen. For Elder it was his second goal of the post season and Coleman's fourth. Edmonton outshot Calgary 34-22 including 3-0 in overtime. The Hitmen went 1-4 on the power play. The Oil Kings were 0-3.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Mark Kastelic (4g, 3a) and Kaden Elder (2g, 3a) are riding four-game point streaks.
- Luke Coleman (1g, 1a) and Egor Zamula (2a) both have points in back-to-back games.
- Layne Toder (3a) saw his three-game point streak end in Game 1 while Devan Klassen (1g, 1a) and Luke Prokop (2a) had their two-game streaks snapped.
NOTEWORTHY
2019 WHL Playoffs: Round 2 Schedule:
The Hitmen and Oil Kings second round playoff series is a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
Edmonton has home-ice advantage.
Game 1 EDM 3 CGY 2 OT EDM leads series 1-0 Rogers Place, Edmonton
Game 2 Sunday, April 7 5:00 p.m. Rogers Place, Edmonton
Game 3 Tuesday, April 9 7:00 p.m. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 4 Wednesday, April 10 7:00 p.m. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 5* Friday, April 12 7:00 p.m. Rogers Place, Edmonton
Game 6* Sunday, April 14 2:00 p.m. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 7* Tuesday, April 16 7:00 p.m. Rogers Place, Edmonton
*If necessary
SHOT CLOCK: Cael Zimmerman led all Hitmen with four shots on goal in Game 1. Mark Kastelic and Kaden Elder were next with three. Andrew Fyten topped all Oil Kings with five shots on goal. Conner McDonald and Andrei Pavlenko both recorded four.
FACE-OFF CIRCLE: Calgary went a combined 35-63 in on draws in the series opener, clicking at 55.5%. Mark Kastelic led the way with 15 face-off wins.
PLAYOFF HISTORY: 2019 marks the third time in league history the Hitmen and Oil Kings square off in a playoff series. Both teams have won once
2009: CGY 4 EDM 0 - Hitmen led by Joel Broda (7pts), Brandon Kozun (5pts) and Martin Jones .73 GAA
2013: EDM 4 CGY 3 - Oil Kings led by Michael St. Croix (10pts), Martin Gernat (7pts) and Laurent Brossoit 2.39 GAA
PLAYOFF DATA: This trip to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final marks Calgary's first time past the opening round of the WHL Playoffs since 2015. Calgary has a lifetime playoff record of 135-109. The Hitmen have competed in 44 series prior to this one. They have won 27 and lost 17. Calgary is 30-22 all-time in post-season overtime games.
HOME AND AWAY: Calgary is 2-3 on the road this post season while Edmonton is 3-1 at home.
DID YOU KNOW?: Mark Kastelic leads the Hitmen in playoff scoring with eight points. He is the highest scoring Hitmen post-season performers since Adam Tambellini and Travis Sanheim both tallied 13 points 2015... Calgary is 4-5-5 in their last 14 visits to Edmonton.
HITMEN CAREER PLAYOFF LEADERBOARD:
Games Played: Michael Stone 62
Goals: Pavel Brendl 35
Assists: Brandon Kozun and Brad Moran 48
Points: Brad Moran 82
Wins: Martin Jones 32
ON THIS DAY: The last time the Hitmen played a playoff game on April 7 was in the 2010 post season. That night Cody Sylvester netted a pair of goals in a 4-1 win in Medicine Hat. Sylvester also added an assist for a team-leading three points. Joel Broda and Kris Foucault tallied the other goals. The win gave Calgary a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven second round series with the Tigers.
HITMEN ALUMNUS: Jake Bean, who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen from 2014-18, is in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect has 44 points (13g, 31a) in 44 games. He has also played two games with the 'Canes this season. Bean sits 16th all-time on the franchise's regular season points list with 175. That is fourth among defenceman trailing only Matt Kinch, Kenton Smith and Michael Stone.
ONE TICKET ONE TREE: The Hitmen are donating $9,956 to Tree Canada to purchase and plant 2,489 trees that will assist with the Alberta forest recovery process. Funds were collected through the One Ticket, One Tree pilot project first announced at the Calgary Zoo on National Tree Day Sept. 26, 2018. As part of this initiative, Hitmen players were educated on ways to reduce their ecological footprint. They also raised awareness to local environmental issues. Highlights included Hitmen Go Green videos on upcycling, city cleanup, water conservation and alternative energy along with recycling and composting.
PROMO CALENDAR
& TICKET INFO
- After today's Game 2, the series shifts to Calgary for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 is Tuesday, Apr. 9, with Game 4 on Wednesday, Apr. 10. Both are 7:00 p.m. starts at Scotiabank Saddledome.
- Hitmen playoff tickets are on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.ca, HitmenHockey.com or at the Scotiabank Saddledome Box Office.
- Single game tickets start at $22.49 for adults, $12.99 for kids 12 and under and group tickets for $13.99 plus applicable fees and taxes.
- Also available is the Calgary Co-op Family Playoff Pack which includes four tickets, four hot hogs, four soft drinks and one popcorn for $74.99. This deal can be purchased at all Calgary Co-op locations.
PLAYOFF WATCH
- The Hitmen have a combined 291 games of playoff experience.
- Kaden Elder leads all players with 54 post-season games played. He also tops the Hitmen in career playoff points with 15. Luke Coleman is next with 11 points.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2019
- Brkin Holds Silvertips at Bay and into 0-2 Hole - Everett Silvertips
- Hitmen Head Home in 0-2 Hole - Calgary Hitmen
- Blades at Raiders Game Preview - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, April 7 at Edmonton - Calgary Hitmen
- Nielsen's OT Winner Sends the Giants to Victoria up 2-0 in Round 2 - Vancouver Giants
- McIndoe Leads Spokane Explosion in Game 1 Victory over Silvertips - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Thwarted by Giants in Overtime in Game 2 - Victoria Royals
- Kelowna Rockets Draisaitl Wraps up Season with 50 Goals - Kelowna Rockets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
