DUBNetwork Game of the Night: Calgary Hitmen (35-22-4-1) @ Medicine Hat Tigers (38-19-2-1) 7:30 PM
The Tigers and Hitmen meet for the sixth and final time tonight with Calgary chasing Medicine Hat for third in the Central Division. Calgary has won three of the five contests.
It is Medicine Hat’s James Hamblin that leads the season series in points with three goals and three assists. He also has the most points of all players on the ice tonight with 88 on 36 goals and 52 assists. Two players have five points apiece — Calgary’s Carson Focht has two goals and three assists and Medicine Hat’s Ryan Chyzowski has three goals and two assists.
Brayden Peters and Mads Sogaard are neck and neck in almost all statistical categories. Peters is 17-13-2-0 with a 2.58 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. Sogaard is 19-13-1-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
Medicine Hat is healthy, with no players listed on the WHL weekly report. Calgary is without Andrew Viggars and Egor Zamula as both are out for what appears to be the duration of the season. Josh Prokop is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Calgary has the 10th ranked power play in the WHL, finding success 21.8% of the time with the man advantage. Medicine Hat is fifth at 23.6%. The two teams are middle of the pack when it comes to killing off penalties. Medicine Hat is 10th at 80.0%, while Calgary is 11th at 79.6%.
You can check the game out tonight on WHL Live. You can also listen in to Brad Curle on Sportsnet 960 in Calgary or Bob Ridley on CHAT FM in Medicine Hat.
In other WHL action (all times local):
Winnipeg ICE (34-24-1-0) @ Moose Jaw Warriors (14-41-4-0) 7:00 PM
Both teams enter the contest on losing streaks; Moose Jaw’s is two games, while Winnipeg has lost four in a row. The ICE are dealing with some injuries to some of their top players. Connor McClennon is out for about another month, while Peyton Krebs is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The ICE trail the second-place Brandon Wheat Kings by five points with two games in hand. Winnipeg is 2-1-0-0 in the season series.
Brandon Wheat Kings (34-21-4-2) @ Prince Albert Raiders (35-17-5-4) 7:00 PM
Another candidate for game of the night, the Raiders and Wheat Kings do battle twice this weekend with first place in the East Division up for grabs. The Raiders’ lead over the Wheat Kings is five points. Both teams have seven games remaining. Prince Albert has a 3-1-0-0 season series advantage. The Wheat Kings could be without the services of Ty Thorpe and Marcus Kallionkieli — both are listed as day-to-day. They will definitely be without Nolan Ritchie who is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.
Regina Pats (21-33-4-2) @ Saskatoon Blades (31-24-2-3) 7:00 PM
It’s been a tight season series between the Pats and Blades. Regina is 2-1-0-0, but both wins required extra time, leaving the Blades with a 1-0-1-1 record. The Blades need a single point to clinch a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. They have lost two in a row. Regina comes in with a win in its last contest. Saskatoon may be without the services of Scott Walford, who is listed as day-to-day, and Randen Schmidt, who is listed as TBD. Regina has two injured goaltenders — Danton Belluk and Donovan Buskey — so the team has called up Spencer Welke.
Swift Current Broncos (10-46-1-3) @ Edmonton Oil Kings (41-11-6-4) 7:00 PM
Two teams on the opposite ends of the Eastern Conference spectrum face-off tonight in Edmonton. With a regulation win and Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers regulation losses, the Oil Kings can clinch another Central Division title. Swift Current is without three forwards for the night’s contest. Jordan Borysiuk, Tyler Smithies, and Jaxan Kaluski are all out with various ailments. Edmonton is without Jesse Seppala. The Broncos are last in the WHL and are eliminated from playoff contention. They’ve lost 15 games in a row.
Spokane Chiefs (38-18-4-1) @ Red Deer Rebels (22-32-3-2) 7:00 PM
The two teams hook up for their yearly matchup, this time in Red Deer. The Rebels are all but eliminated from playoff contention and lost their last game. Spokane is on a tear, winning seven games in a row, and is third in the US Division, 11 points behind the Everett Silvertips. Spokane is dealing with some injuries. Campbell Arnold and Matthew Leduc are out indefinitely. Brandon Reller (illness) is listed as day-to-day.
Lethbridge Hurricanes (37-17-2-5) @ Kamloops Blazers (38-17-4-1) 7:00 PM
Following a surprising shutout loss, the Lethbridge Hurricanes face an uphill battle to get back on track as they head to Kamloops for the second game of their BC Division road trip. Kamloops heads into the game on a three-game win streak. The Blazers could see the return of Dylan Garand between the pipes, as he was listed as day-to-day in the latest WHL weekly report. He hasn’t played since February 1st.
Vancouver Giants (32-23-3-2) @ Prince George Cougars (18-34-4-4) 7:00 PM
The Giants are looking to get back on track, having lost two in a row. They are neck and neck with the Victoria Royals for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Cougars are nine points back of the Seattle Thunderbirds for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Prince George is dealing with a few injuries as well. Nikita Krivokrasov, Jack Sander, and Ethan Browne are all listed as day-to-day. The Giants could be without David Tendeck, listed as day-to-day, and are expected to be missing Krz Plummer.
Seattle Thunderbirds (23-30-4-3) @ Kelowna Rockets (27-27-3-3) 7:05 PM
Seven points separate the two teams holding down the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference. Kelowna has dominated the season series so far, winning all three previous games, one of which required overtime. The Rockets’ injury situation is well documented, while Seattle has just Max Patterson expected to be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Tri-City Americans (17-37-4-20 @ Everett Silvertips (44-12-3-1) 7:35 PM
In another case of two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum, Everett has won 10 in a row and the Americans have lost six straight. With eight games to play, Everett is in a back-and-forth battle with Portland for the US Division title. The Silvertips are 5-1-0-0 in the season series, with one game requiring overtime. John Little and Krystof Hrabik, both listed as day-to-day, could be seen in the lineup tonight. Everett has three players out week-to-week: Hunter Campbell, Gianni Fairbrother, and Tyson Phare.
