Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Thursday, March 28 vs. Lethbridge
March 28, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN vs. LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES
Game 4 of best-of-seven series. Lethbridge leads 2-1.
Thursday, March 28, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen host the Lethbridge Hurricanes tonight in Game 4 of their best-of-seven opening round WHL playoff series. It's a 7:00 p.m. start at Scotiabank Saddledome with FREE bottomless popcorn for all kids in attendance. The Mount Royal Rocky Mountain Taiko Ensemble will once again perform from the top of section 215 during whistle breaks and in both intermissions.
Calgary produced a 5-3 win on Tuesday in Game 3 and now trails the series 2-1. Carson Focht scored twice and added an assist to power the Hitmen scoring attack that was propelled by a strong start, scoring twice in the opening five minutes, en route to a 3-0 second period lead. Josh Prokop with a goal and an assist, Ryder Korczak and Luke Coleman, into an empty net, also tallied markers for the home side. Luke Prokop chipped in a pair of assists. Dylan Cozens netted a pair of goals for the 'Canes with Zack Stringer adding a single. Special teams were a major factor as the Hitmen killed a stretch of five straight Lethbridge power plays before scoring the eventual game winner with the extra attacker early in the third period to make it 4-2. Calgary outshot Lethbridge 36-29 with Hitmen goalie Jack McNaughton making 26 saves to record his first career playoff victory. Carl Tetachuk made 31 stops in the loss.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Defencemen Dakota Krebs (1g, 1a) and Egor Zamula (2a) both have points in two of their last three games.
NOTEWORTHY
2019 WHL Playoffs: Round 1 Schedule:
The Hitmen and Hurricanes opening round playoff series is a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
Game 1 'Canes 3 Hitmen 2 OT LET leads series 1-0 ENMAX Centre, Lethbridge
Game 2 'Canes 4 Hitmen 1 LET leads series 2-0 ENMAX Centre, Lethbridge
Game 3 Hitmen 5 'Canes 3 LET leads series 2-1 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 4 Thursday, March 28 7:00 p.m. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 5 Saturday, March 30 7:00 p.m. Nicholas Sheran Arena, Lethbridge
Game 6* Sunday, March 31 4:00 p.m. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 7* Tuesday, April 2 7:00 p.m. Nicholas Sheran Arena, Lethbridge
*If necessary
SERIES NOTES: The team scoring first is 2-1...Calgary has outshot Lethbridge by a combined 102-94...There has been only one lead change in the series and that was in Game 1.
SHOT CLOCK: Carson Focht leads all Hitmen with 16 shots on goal in the series. Riley Fiddler-Schultz is next with nine while Josh Prokop and Luke Coleman both have eight. Jake Leschyshyn and Nick Henry have 14 shots each to top the Hurricanes. Dylan Cozens has 11.
FACE-OFF CIRCLE: Calgary is 127-228 on draws this series, operating at 55.7%.
PLAYOFF HISTORY: 2019 marks the fifth time in league history the Hitmen and Hurricanes square off in a playoff series. Calgary has won three of the previous four.
2005: CGY 4 LET 1 - Hitmen led by Ryan Getzlaf (8pts), Andrew Ladd (6pts) and Justin Pogge 1.29 GAA
2006: CGY 4 LET 2 - Hitmen led by Fredrik Pettersson (7pts), Craig Lineker (7pts) and Justin Pogge 2.97 GAA
2008: LET 4 CGY 0 - Canes led by Mitch Fadden (7pts), Zach Boychuk (6pts) and Juha Metsola 1.73 GAA
2009: CGY 4 LET 0 - Hitmen led by Brandon Kozun (7pts), Kyle Bortis (7pts) and Martin Jones 1.00 GAA
POST-SEASON EXPERIENCE: The Hitmen have a combined 196 games of playoff experience. Kaden Elder leads all players with 49 post-season games played. He also tops the Hitmen in career playoff points with 10.
GAME 4 FACTS: The Hitmen are 28-15 all-time in Game 4's.
COMEBACK TRAIL: Twice in franchise history the Hitmen have rebounded from an 0-2 playoff series deficit to win. In the 2010 post-season they lost both games on home ice before bouncing back to defeat the Moose Jaw Warriors in seven games in the opening round. During the 2007 WHL Playoffs, Calgary dropped the first two games of their second-round set with Brandon on the road then came roaring back with four straight wins to capture the series in six.
PLAYOFF RECORD: Calgary has a lifetime playoff record of 132-107. The Hitmen have competed in 43 series prior to this one. They have won 26 and lost 17. Calgary is 30-20 all-time in post-season overtime games.
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
SCORING DEPTH: For the first time since the 2013-14 season, Calgary had four players with 25 or more goals in a regular season with Mark Kastelic (47), James Malm (34), Kaden Elder (27) and Carson Focht (26). In 2013-14 they were Jake Virtanen (45), Brady Brassart (35), Greg Chase (35) and Pavel Padakin (27).
HITMEN ALUMNUS: Chris Driedger, who played three seasons with the Hitmen from 2011-14, has split this season between the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds and ECHL's Manchester Monarchs. The 24-year-old goalie is 13-10-1 with a 2.53 goals against average and .921 save percentage with the AHL's Thunderbirds while posting a 6-5 record along with a 2.75 goals against average and .911 save percentage with Manchester.
PROMO CALENDAR
& TICKET INFO
- Thursday, Mar. 28 vs. LET, Game 4 of the Hitmen 2019 WHL Playoffs
- Hitmen playoff tickets can be bought at Ticketmaster.ca, HitmenHockey.com or from the Scotiabank Saddledome Box Office.
- Twelve-game playoff packages are $199. Single game tickets start at $22.49 for adults, $12.99 for kids 12 and under and group tickets for $15.00 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.
- Game 6, if necessary, will be played at the 'Dome on Sunday, Mar. 31 at 4:00 p.m. Sunday Funday pricing, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill, will be in effect and includes face painters and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket.
PLAYOFF MILESTONE WATCH
- Kaden Elder is one game shy of 50.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2019
- Raiders Collide with Blades in Second Round of 2019 #WHLPlayoffs - Saskatoon Blades
- WHL Announces Indefinite Suspension for Royals' McDonald - WHL
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Thursday, March 28 vs. Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Royals Rally Past Blazers in Game 3 - Victoria Royals
- Blades Sweep Warriors, Advance to Round Two - Saskatoon Blades
- Americans Get back in Series with OT Win - Everett Silvertips
- Giants Fall 4-3 in Game 4 Down South, Series Tied 2-2 - Vancouver Giants
- Silvertips Host Game 5 of the First Round of the WHL Playoffs on Saturday, March 30 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Tri-City - Everett Silvertips
- Back-To-Back Overtime Games in Portland - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Tie Series with Comeback Win in Game 4 - Seattle Thunderbirds
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