For the third straight weekend, the Calgary Hitmen will play games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as the team inches closer to the Christmas break. While picking up 12 points in its last eight games, Calgary has fallen in two consecutive contests to divisional rivals. This weekend will feature a three-game stretch that includes a home-and-home with the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Hitmen will then return home to battle the Everett Silvertips in the single matchup between the two teams this season.
The Hitmen will open the weekend on Friday against the Oil Kings at the Saddledome before travelling to Edmonton the following evening to clash with the Oil Kings once again in Rogers Place. The two clubs have battled twice in the Saddledome. Calgary came out with a win in both games, while Edmonton picked up a point with an overtime loss in one. Rogers Place has not been a place of good fortune for Calgary as the Hitmen are currently winless in Edmonton, dropping all three games in regulation. While Edmonton has scored three times in both games hosted in Calgary, the Oil Kings have racked up a combined 15 goals in their three home games against the Hitmen. The storyline of most of these games has involved an undisciplined style of hockey that resulted in several successful power plays for the Oil Kings. Among Oil Kings players, it has been Carter Souch, Jake Neighbours, and Josh Williams who have made the Hitmen pay. Whether on the man advantage or even strength, these three have been impact players throughout the five matchups thus far. After a terrific night thwarting the Red Deer Rebels power play, the Hitmen may have some success against the Oil Kings man advantage.
For the final game of the weekend, the Hitmen find themselves paired up against a powerhouse club in the Everett Silvertips. This week, the Silvertips were ranked number four on the CHL power rankings and have been led by the likes of two of the leagues more talented overagers — Bryce Kindopp and Wyatte Wylie. Captain Kindopp was named WHL on the Run Player of the Week earlier this year and is on pace for a career season as the right winger currently averages 1.17 points per game. The early season acquisition of Cole Fonstad has also bolstered the Silvertips offense. Dustin Wolf has been outstanding thus far as the Everett netminder. After being snagged in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames, Wolf has elevated his game, posting a 0.940 save percentage while winning 13 of 19 games played. The Hitmen will be challenged with facing the third-best power play in the entire WHL with the Silvertips capitalizing on 24.3% of their man advantages. The Silvertps will also be playing their first game against a Central Division team. They blanked the Hitmen 4-0 last season with Dustin Wolf named first star and recording the shutout. Bryce Kindopp picked up a goal and assist as the night’s third star.
The Hitlist:
- Calgary goaltenders have posted an 0.871 save percentage this season against the Oil Kings.
- Egor Zamula (Russia) and Jonas Peterek (Czech Republic) have been named to their respective countries’ World Junior Championship selection camp rosters.
