Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, March 13 at Medicine Hat
Published on March 13, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (21-36-9-2, 53 pts.) at MEDICINE HAT TIGERS (35-26-8-0, 78 pts.)
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Canalta Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen complete a four-game road trip tonight in Medicine Hat against the Tigers. The Hitmen are 1-1-1-0 on the swing and coming off Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss in Prince Albert. Brayden Pachal scored the winner with 50.7 seconds remaining in the extra session. Jordy Stallard led PA with a goal and two assists pushing the Raiders to their ninth straight win while Vojtech Budik and Curtis Miske also hit the scoresheet. Mark Kastelic netted a pair for Calgary to reach the 20 goal plateau for the first time in his career with Carson Focht adding a single. Tristen Nielsen chipped in two assists. The Hitmen built period leads of 1-0 and 2-1 before the Raiders fired 26 third period shots to take a 3-2 lead. Kastelic however forced overtime for the visitors recording a power play marker with 10:58 remaining. Prince Albert outshot Calgary 44-23. Matthew Armitage made 40 saves in the loss and Ian Scott 20 stops in the victory. The Hitmen, at 53 points, are fifth in the Central Division and will miss the post-season for the first time in seven seasons. The Tigers, with 78 points, lead the division sitting eight points ahead of Lethbridge. Medicine Hat also last played on Saturday falling 5-2 in Red Deer. Brandon Hagel turned in a monster performance for the Rebels scoring a hat-trick and adding an assist.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Tristen Nielsen (5g, 5a) is on a career high six-game point streak.
- Carson Focht (2g, 2a) and Mark Kastelic (3g) have both scored in back-to-back games.
- Conner Chaulk (2a) and Cael Zimmerman (2a) are on two-game point streaks.
- Jakob Stukel (9g, 10a) has points in 10 of his last 11 games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. MEDICINE HAT: Tonight is the sixth and final regular season meeting between the two Central Division rivals. Calgary is 2-2-1-0 against the Tigers. Mark Kastelic (1g, 4a) leads the Hitmen with five points against Medicine Hat. Jakob Stukel (3g, 1a) and Luke Coleman (1g, 3a) both have four. Mark Rassell (6g, 3a) is the top-performing Tiger with nine points in the season series. David Quenneville (2g, 4a) is next with six. Calgary is 3-6-1-1 in their last 11 visits to Medicine Hat.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Nov. 10/17 at CGY: MH 4 CGY 2...The Tigers erased deficits of 1-0 and 2-1.
Nov. 11/17 at MH: MH 4 CGY 3 OT...Max Gerlach scored the winner with 6.5 seconds remaining.
Jan. 3/18 at CGY: CGY 4 MH 3 OT...Riley Stotts scored the winner 47 seconds into the extra session.
Feb. 9/18 at MH: MH 4 CGY 0...The Tigers held Calgary to just 10 shots through 40 minutes.
Feb. 11/18 vs MH: CGY 5 MH 4...Conner Chaulk scored with 1:48 remaining to snap a 4-4 tie.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 159 MH 185 Power Plays: CGY 3-17 (17.6%) MH 5-19 (26.3%)
RECENT RUN: The Hitmen have picked up at least a point in eight of their last 11 games posting a record of 4-3-4-0.
CHASING RECORDS: Hitmen goaltender Nick Schneider has played 59 games this season, one shy of the franchise record for most appearances by a goalie. He is also 12 minutes away from tying the club record for most minutes in a season. Alexander Fomitchev currently holds both records appearing in 60 games during the 1997-98 campaign while logging 3,371 minutes. On Feb. 28 in Red Deer, Schneider broke the franchise record for saves in a season.
HIGHWAY TRAVELS: Tristen Nielsen (4g, 3a) leads all Hitmen on this four-game road trip with seven points in three games. Carson Focht (2g, 2a) is next with four points while Mark Kastelic (3g) and Egor Zamula (3a) both have three. Jakob Stukel (1g, 1a), Conner Chaulk (2g), Riley Stotts (2a) and Cael Zimmerman (2a) all have two points each. Two other Hitmen have notched a single point in Jake Kryski (1a) and Vladislav Yeryomenko (1a).
DID YOU KNOW?: Calgary has been to overtime in five of their last seven games. Overall they have made 19 trips to the extra session, one 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 68 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 52 penalty shots in the WHL this season including four by the Hitmen. Calgary is 1-4.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Calgary has suffered 22 losses by a single goal this season. Eleven have been in regulation, nine in overtime and two in the shootout. Overall the Hitmen have played in 33 games decided by a single goal sporting a combined record of 11-11-9-2.
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.
INJURY REPORT: The Hitmen have lost a combined 176 man games to injury this season.
ALUMNI WATCH: Ben Thomas is in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch. The 21-year-old defenceman has 19 points (4g, 15a) in 62 games. Thomas played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen appearing in 153 games while recording 65 points. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect shared the Hitmen RE/MAX Rookie of the Year award with Travis Sanheim in the 2013-14 season.
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 (2-1-3-0).
HITMEN VS: East Division (4-15-4-1), Central Division (13-9-5-1), B.C. Division (4-7-0-0), U.S. Division (0-5-0-0).
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Fan Appreciation Day presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18 vs. EDM. There will be over 100 giveaways with the grand prize of a "Seven-night all-inclusive trip for two to the BlueBay Grand Esmeralda in Cancun, Mexico'.
CAREER MILESTONES
- Tristen Nielsen is one game away from 100.
- Mark Kastelic is two assists shy of 50.
- Luke Coleman needs six points for 100.
- Nick Schneider played career game 200 Mar. 7 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 13, 2018
- Blades Suffer 5-3 Loss in Brandon, Miss out on Post-Season - Saskatoon Blades
- Rockets Look for B.C. Division Title as They Host Cougars - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors' Jayden Halbgewachs named CHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Smith Big Part of Rebels' Future After Playing at Junior A Level at 16 - Red Deer Rebels
- Forward Sean Gulka Signs with Chiefs - Spokane Chiefs
- Rockets Hunt for 8th Divisional Title - Kelowna Rockets
- Northstar GM St. Patty's Day Pre-Party Presented by the ICE Fan Club to be Held Prior to Saturday's Game - Kootenay Ice
- ICE 17-18 Game-Worn Dark Jerseys to be Auctioned Off - Kootenay Ice
- Jersey Draw March 13 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blades Hit the Road to Close out Season Series with Wheaties - Saskatoon Blades
- Game 70 vs. Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, March 13 at Medicine Hat - Calgary Hitmen
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